Sarnia stings Windsor with four late goals
All-star Sergachev nailed to the bench as Sarnia pots four in third-period rally
It was a decision that played a big part in the Windsor Spitfires missing out on two points on Sunday.
Down the road, it’s a decision that could also be a factor in the Spitfires not winning the West Division or having home ice advantage in the playoffs.
In the end, it was a decision Windsor Spitfires head coach Rocky Thompson has no regrets in making.
Thompson benched all-star defenceman Mikhail Sergachev for the entire third period on Sunday and watched the Sarnia Sting rally with four unanswered goals to win 4-2 before a seasonhigh crowd of 6,259 at the WFCU Centre.
“That was a message being sent to Misha, 100 per cent,” Thompson said. “It’s not the first time it happened this year (with a player). So, as a result, he didn’t play in the third period.
“Some people may think it cost us a game. Hundred per cent it did.”
The Spitfires were leading 2-0 late in the second period on goals by Luke Boka and Jeremiah Addison when Sergachev was given a high-sticking penalty and then an unsportsmanlike penalty.
“It’s a situation I felt I had to draw a line in the sand for an individual to see what would happen come playoff time, come Memorial Cup, if your emotions can’t be controlled,” Thompson said. “(Against Sarnia), it cost our team, at the end of the day, and it was my decision because sometimes you have to send a message to a person in order for them to respond the right way.”
Sergachev, who also picked up a cross-checking penalty in the first period and gave the Sting three power plays in the game, is by no means a malcontent. But the first round pick by the NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and defending OHL defenceman of the year is too valuable a piece not to realize his importance to the team.
“Misha’s a great kid,” Thompson said. “I know this is like a knife in the heart because he cares about his teammates a lot and he feels a responsibility for what happened for sure.”
Windsor native Anthony Salinitri started the Sarnia comeback with a breakaway goal and Jeff King followed with the equalizer less than two minutes later.
The Spitfires would get a pair of power play chances late in an attempt to regain the lead and Sergachev stood at the door at the end of the bench hoping a chance to get on the ice would come, but it didn’t.
Those two power plays failed to produce and Jordan Kyrou and King added late goals to complete the Sarnia comeback.
As well, Sault Ste. Marie won, which drops the Spitfires fivepoints back in the race for the division lead with nine games left in the season.
The fifth seed in the Western Conference also lost ground to fourth-seeded Owen Sound and third-seeded London, who both won on Sunday.
“Better to happen (now) than three weeks from now when it’s going to cost us opportunities in the playoffs,” Thompson said.
It was my decision because sometimes you have to send a message to a person in order for them to respond the right way.