The Windsor Spitfires answered the challenge. After dropping the first two games of the series, the Spitfires secured a crucial 4-2 victory over the Kitchener Rangers on Monday at the WFCU Centre.
A Must-Win Game
“This was a must win and I think we all knew that,” said Spitfires’ overage forward Alex Pharand after his team had fallen 4-3 in overtime and 2-1 in the first two games in Kitchener. Windsor still trails 2-1 in the best-of-seven Western Conference final and will look to even the series on Wednesday at the WFCU Centre. Game time is 7:05 p.m.
“Job’s not over,” Pharand added. “We just have to get ready to go again on Wednesday and we’ll be ready for it.”
Accepting a New Role
A former first-round OHL Draft pick, the 21-year-old Pharand was a much bigger piece with the Sudbury Wolves before being traded to Windsor with Nathan Villeneuve at the deadline. However, with the Spitfires, Pharand has become more of a role player and is often on the fourth line.
“It took me a little bit of time to get used to the system we play here,” Pharand said. “I think playing a role is something that has to be done in the NHL, OHL and I’ve embraced it. I’m going to do whatever head coach Greg Walters wants me to do night in and night out to help our team win. I’m really proud of what I can contribute to this team.”
After defenceman Jakub Fibigr got Windsor on the board early with a power-play goal on a five-on-three advantage, Pharand was alone in front of the Kitchener net and took a feed from rookie Caden Harvey and scored to put the Spitfires up 2-0.
“It’s probably the biggest and most important goal I’ve scored in my career,” said Pharand, who has more than 350 games of league experience over five seasons but is playing in his first conference final. His goal marked the first time in this series that either team has had a multiple-goal lead, and the Spitfires never trailed in the game.
Walters Praises Pharand
“Sometimes it’s a tough move going from one place to another,” Walters said of the trade. However, when Nathan Gaymes made an early exit from the game with an undisclosed injury, Walters was forced to juggle lines with just 11 forwards.
“This was his best game in a Spitfire uniform and he saved it for the right time,” Walters said. “Honestly, I think (Gaymes leaving) won us the game because we played 11 forwards, rolled them over and obviously they didn’t play their fourth line much. We just kept going and going and pressuring them.”
Adding a Pinch of Offence
With the two teams locked in a one-goal game heading into the third period, Spitfires’ rookie defenceman Andrew Robinson made a bold, if not risky, choice. The 18-year-old Robinson lunged to just barely keep the puck in at the Kitchener blue line. He moved around a check, fed teammate Cole Davis behind the net, and then went to the front of the net for a return feed and scored the eventual game-winning goal just 24 seconds into the third period.
