Windsor Spitfires Have Spirit in OT

Gabriel Vilardi scored twice, including the overtime winner, and added two assists as the Windsor Spitfires defeated the Saginaw Spirit 4-3 at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw Wednesday night.

The four-point outburst was a truly remarkable performance for Vilardi as the second-year centre was making his return to the Spitfires’ lineup after being sidelined following an emergency appendectomy.

Jeremiah Addison, a former first round pick of the Spirit in 2012, scored the other two goals for the Spitfires (22-6-4-1) who improved their overtime record to 6-4-0-1 with the win.

Addison’s first of two third period goals came just 29 seconds into the third frame and was the Spits’ first powerplay marker in 21 opportunities playing with the man advantage.

Mike DiPietro made 19 saves to pick up the win in goal for the Spitfires.

The game also marked the return to the Windsor lineup of centre Logan Brown. The first round pick of the Ottawa Senators had been sidelined due to a wrist injury and chipped in with two assists in his first game back.

Jesse Barwell, Damien Giroux and DJ Busdeker scored and Evan Cormier was stellar while making 44 saves for the Spirit (13-15-4-2) who lost their second overtime decision in less than a month to the Spitfires. Saginaw also dropped the last Ontario Hockey League game ever to be played at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit just over three weeks ago.

The Spitfires schedule has them right back at it Thursday night when they return to the WFCU Centre to host the Kitchener Rangers. IPM is giving away four Gold Zone seats for this game. Visit our Facebook page to enter.