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It was easy to get lost in the best offensive performance of Liam Greentree’s young career with the Windsor Spitfires.
The second-year forward recorded his second career hat-trick and the first six-point game of his Ontario Hockey League career on Saturday in an 8-2 win over the Peterborough Petes before a crowd of 5,008 at the WFCU Centre.
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“He’s probably the best guy I’ve ever played hockey with,” Spitfires’ first-year forward Jack Greenwell said. “It’s so fun to watch him and I’m excited to see where he goes in this hockey career.”
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The 18-year-old Greentree has been the straw that has stirred the Spitfires’ offensive drink all season. The club does not expect six points on a nightly basis, but his 26 goals and 61 points in 40 games has him among the league’s top 10 scorers.
“He’s awesome,” Spitfires’ interim head coach Casey Torres said of Greentree. “It’s great to have him back and we miss him when he’s not here. He’s someone you’re happy to be in the fight with.”
Greentree missed Thursday’s game due to travel issues getting back from Moncton where he competed in the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game where he had the lone goal for Team White.
“I had a goal in that game and I thought I practiced well and had some confidence coming off playing with some of the best guys in this upcoming draft,” Greentree said.
But the club captain, who is projected as a first-round NHL Draft pick, was just as excited to see his teammates make a big contribution in Saturday’s win that snapped the club’s four-game losing streak.
Greentree was one of six different goal scorers for the Spitfires in the victory and a total of 13 players recorded at least a point.
Ryan “Pucks” Pyette on the OHL
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“It’s always great to have all the guys have a good night and that was a huge two points for us,” Greentree said.
The Spitfires jumped to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes with Greentree setting up both goals as rookie Cole Davis scored his 14th of the season and Greenwell notching his second of the season and first since Oct. 15.
“It’s been kind of tough because we’ve got a lot of good guys on our team,” said Greenwell, who has taken on a larger role since the trade deadline. “It’s been a battle, but I think with more minutes and playing time, I think I can produce for this team and do what they want. I got my chance now and I have to keep going and keep pushing.”
Ryder McIntyre got the Petes to within a goal early in the second period, but Greentree sandwiched a pair go goals around Ethan Martin’s second of the season to put Windsor up 5-1.
“We played well,” Torres said. “No question we do (need the secondary scoring), but I also thought those guys did a lot of good things well away from the puck before they got their goal.”
Cam Gauvreau pulled the Petes to within 5-2 after 40 minutes, but goalie Max Donoso would not allow another in making 28 saves to earn his first win with the club.
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Meanwhile, the Spitfires, who let a pair of two-goal leads slip away in the third period in a loss on Thursday, closed with three-unanswered goals in the third period with Noah Morneau, Colton Smith and Greentree capping the scoring.
“I think it’s been tough,” Greenwell said. “Guys have been frustrated, but we have the firepower to make the playoffs. The third period (on Thursday), we couldn’t lock down and (Saturday) we did it.”
The Spitfires are back in action on Sunday with a road match in Saginaw against the Spirit. Game time is 2 p.m.
jpparker@postmedia.com
twitter.com/winstarparker
Game Summary
Saturday Result
Spitfires 8 Petes 2
Peterborough 0 2 0 – 2
Windsor 2 3 3 – 8
First period: 1. Windsor, Davis 14 (Greentree, Eichler) 7:00, 2. Windsor, Greenwell 2 (Greentree, Cristoforo) 17:04. Penalties: None.
Second period: 3. Peterborough, McIntyre 4 (Melee) 2:55, 4. Windsor, Greentree 25 (Cristoforo, Davis) 3:50, 5. Windsor, Martin 2 (Morneau, Toms) 9:40, 6. Windsor, Greentree 26 (Zhugin, Cristoforo) 16:18 (pp), 7. Peterborough, Gauvreau 2 (Taylor) 19:00 (pp). Penalties: Lefebvre P (holding) 4:22, Ladds P (checking from behind) 9:55, Ladds P (cross checking) 15:18, Eichler W (roughing) 18:45, Cameron P (slashing), Toure W (roughing) 19:27.
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Third period: 8. Windsor, Morneau 5 (Greentree) 13:06 (sh), 9. Windsor, Smith 8 (Toure, Nesbitt) 14:52, 10. Windsor, Greentree 27 (Woodall) 16:03. Penalties: Toure W (unsportsmanlike conduct) 3:58, Abraham W (hooking) 11:55, Melee P (holding), Toms W (slashing) 15:17, Walton W (tripping) 17:09, Melee P (interference) 17:25.
Game stats – SOG – Peterborough 6 14 10 – 30 Windsor 11 9 14 – 34 Goal (shots-saves) – Peterborough: Sztuska (L,8-17-3-1) (34-26). Windsor: Donoso (W,11-14-2-0) (30-28). Power play (goals-chances) – Peterborough 1-4. Windsor 1-4. Referees: Chris Chapman (30) and Ryan Jenken (36). Linesmen: Brendan Barletta (61) and Geoff Rutherford (62). Att.: 5,008 at the WFCU Centre.
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