Three nights, three games, three wins
The Peterborough Petes stand alone atop the OHL standings after completing a sweep of three games in three nights.
Nick Isaacson scored the winning and insurance goals in the third period Saturday as the Petes topped the Windsor Spitfires 4-2 before a season-high 3,318 fans at the Memorial Centre on Petes Homecoming Weekend.
Their fourth win in six days improved their record to 8-2. Hunter Jones made 34 saves for his league-best eighth win.
The game marked defected first-round draft pick Will Cuylle’s first visit to Peterborough since his trade to Windsor. He was greeted by a chorus of boos but also produced his first multi-point OHL game with two assists.
Petes head coach Rob Wilson was proud of how his team battled to get through a tough schedule.
“They were exhausted,” said Wilson.
“We had a game plan for tonight just like we did Friday (in Oshawa) because we knew our legs were going to be tough. When you lose your top faceoff guy (Zach Gallant) other guys have to pick up the slack and some guys are taking more draws
than they would normally. So there were a lot of little things we had to concentrate on tonight. I give them full credit. I’m really proud of their effort blocking shots, being in shooting lanes, chipping pucks in, chipping pucks out. Doing the little things that help you win.”
Isaacson broke a 2-2 tie 7:12 into the third on a setup by Chris Paquette then scored into an empty net in the dying seconds.
The Petes survived the final two minutes when Windsor had their goalie pulled by blocking a number of shots. Cole Fraser blocked a few and got a big ovation when he dropped Cuylle with a hit late in the second period.
“It definitely gave the whole team a little bit of motivation to show this guy he made a mistake not coming,” said Fraser. “We don’t need him. We’re a good team the way we are.
“I knew it was him when he came down the side. I think a few guys, if the chance came and the opportunity was there, we were going to show him what it’s like to play in this league.”
Fans booed loudly when Cuylle came onto the ice for his first shift and when he touched the puck for the first time.
“I knew I wouldn’t have a warm welcome,” said Cuylle,
“It was fun to play in front of the big crowd. It’s just too bad we couldn’t come out with the win. I
expected (the booing) and I just kind of used it as motivation to play harder.”
The crowd was silenced when Cole Purboo rifled Cuylle’s first pass by Jones 40 seconds into the game.
“It was nice to get the quick goal,” said Cuylle.
When asked why he didn’t want to come to Peterborough, he replied, “I didn’t feel it was the best place for me to go and develop. I was looking at schools and the NCAA route. I just felt it wasn’t the best fit for me.”
He changed his mind about school when Windsor acquired him because he saw an opportunity to join a young team on the rise.
The Spitfires are 3-5 after the loss.
“They have a bright future ahead of them and I’d be right in the middle of it,” Cuylle said.
“I’m definitely happy. I’m happy for Peterborough that they’ve had a good start to the season. I would rather have a better start with Windsor but it’s early.”
The Petes evened the score on rookie Erik Cermak’s first OHL goal 9:13 later on a power play. Pavel Gogolev one-timed Declan Chisholm’s pass and Cermak was in the slot to pot the rebound.
“It was really nice to score my first goal here but most important is that we won and we keep winning and are first in the league,” said Cermak.
Paquette netted his third shorthanded goal this season, and the Petes' fifth, 10:02 into the second. He buried Chisholm’s two-on-one pass. Windsor tied it on the same power play 23 seconds later. Cuylle got an assist after Purboo tipped Connor Corcoran’s point shot in the high slot.
The Petes host Oshawa at 7:05 p.m. Thursday.
NOTES: Three stars were 1. Chris Paquette (P); 2. Cole Purboo (W) 3. Erik Cernak (P)… Hardest working Pete was Pavel Gogolev.