The Spitfires lost a goaltending battle to the East-Division leading Ottawa 67's at the WFCU Centre Thursday night.
Ottawa goaltender Cedrick Andree matched Windsor's Michael DiPietro save-for-save between the pipes in a game that didn't see any scoring unit midway through the third period.
Both teams exchange scoring chances in the first, but Windsor came out flying in the second, out-shooting the 67's 7-0 to start the period. Windsor's Luke Kutkevicius lost the handle on a breakaway and Luke Boka was cut-off by Andree at the last second on a wraparound chance.
DiPietro managed to keep things even to close-out the period, robbing Kody Clark on a breakaway.
Ottawa's Tye Felhaber finally put his 17th goal of the year past DiPietro midway through the third period for a 1-0 edge. DiPietro would continue to make big saves to keep Windsor in the game, stopping Marco Rossi at the left post after Spitfire Curtis Douglas put Ottawa on the power play with a high-sticking penalty.
Andree again answered for the 67's stopping Nathan Staios on a breakaway with just minutes left in the third. The Spitfires would pour-it-on with two extra attackers after pulling DiPietro and Ottawa's Austen Keating put Windsor on the power play with a minute left in the game, but Ottawa would hold on for a 1-0 final.
DiPietro earned the second star of the game, stopping 19 of the 20 shots he faced in the loss, and Andree earned first star honours after stopping all 26 chances for the shutout. The Spitfires are only ahead of the winless Flint Firebirds in the West-Division.
Windsor is back at it Friday against the Rangers Friday at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, puck drops at the 7:30pm.
Tune into AM800 for all the action.