The Spitfires fought all the way back, grabbed a late lead and still walked away empty-handed Thursday night.
Windsor erased a two-goal deficit on the road against the West Division-leading Sault Se. Marie Greyhounds, but the comeback came apart in overtime as the Spitfires dropped a 5-4 decision.
It was the third extra-time game in 12 contests for Windsor this season, and for the third time the club left without the win. The Spitfires are now 0-for-3 in those extra sessions, with two overtime losses and one shootout defeat.
The game also brought more frustration for a Windsor power play that has suddenly found its rhythm. After managing just two goals on 32 chances over the first 10 games, the Spitfires have now cashed in seven times on 14 opportunities over their last two outings.
"Our power play has been unbelievable the last two games and we have to keep the momentum rolling," Spitfires' centre Johnny McLaughlin said.
Bogdan Yakushevskey scored twice with the man advantage, McLaughlin added another power-play goal, and rookie Ty Bergeron chipped in Windsor’s other tally after the Greyhounds jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
Even with the offensive push, the ending left plenty of frustration. The Spitfires had a chance to win it in overtime on a power play, but couldn’t finish, and Sault Ste. Marie answered by going the other way and scoring the winner.
"We had our chances four-on-three and some decent looks and then go down three-on-two and we don't execute and they go right down and (score the winner)," Spitfires' head coach Greg Walters said.
Walters also pointed to the way both power-play units were producing in the game.
"Both units are getting chances and finding the back of the net," Walters said.
The night also included concern over defenceman Andrew Robinson, who left the game in the second period and did not return after a hit from the Greyhounds’ Cam Anderson. Robinson had made a pass before being sent into the boards.
The Spitfires were unhappy with the officiating on the sequence.
"They (referees Aiden Dionne and Andre Grougrou) said the original contact was right to the chest and that's not what happened," Walters said.
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