The Windsor Spitfires know that the next two months will be a battle. They got a taste of playoff hockey on Wednesday night, losing a tough game against a familiar conference foe in their first meeting of the season.
Teams in the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Western Conference loaded up at the trade deadline earlier this month. While the Spitfires have played contenders like the Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds, they hadn’t faced the Kitchener Rangers until Wednesday night.
The clubs met at the WFCU Centre in Windsor for the first time since the Rangers won four-straight, including Game 7 in overtime to eliminate the Spitfires in the second round of the playoffs last season. While that series was nine months ago, there is no love lost. Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s game.
Late Mistakes Cost Spitfires
The Rangers have been a problem for the Spitfires for years. Now they’ve added 2025 Memorial Cup champions forward Sam O’Reilly (Edmonton Oilers) and defenceman Jared Woolley (Los Angeles Kings), which not only added spice to the rivalry but also another contender for the Western Conference crown. Wednesday night was their first meeting, and it lived up to the hype.
The Spitfires got off to a quick start thanks to captain Liam Greentree. He took a pass from newcomers Alex Pharand and Nathan Villeneuve and made it 1-0 just 52 seconds into the contest. From there, both teams played calculated, defensive hockey, threw the body, and looked for mistakes. The only one the Spitfires made was late in the frame when a puck trickled past goaltender Joey Costanzo to make it 1-1.
The game remained the same into the second until forward Ethan Belchetz tipped home a Carson Woodall shot for a 2-1 home-side lead. Usually, the Spitfires will press in the third period to seal the win. However, they sat back, and it cost them as Dylan Edwards forced overtime with a late tally.
In the extra time, Spitfires forward Jack Nesbitt took a shot in the ankle and had to go to the bench. The Rangers took advantage as Jack Pridham finished off the comeback for a 3-2 Rangers’ win.
The Windsor #Spitfires started well against the Kitchener #Rangers at the WFCU Centre on Wednesday, but fell 3-2 in overtime in a defensive, physical battle. #OHL pic.twitter.com/9OP8RCqwZz
— Dave Jewell (@DaveJewellOHL) January 22, 2026
After the game, Spitfires head coach Greg Walters said they played well defensively, but he had an issue with their third period.
“The first two periods, give a team like that seven shots on net with two power plays, you’re doing the right things defensively,” he said. “In the third period, we went into a shell. Even our trap, we were giving up the red line way too easily. It felt like we were playing not to lose instead of playing to win … I didn’t like that third at all.”
While Walters took partial responsibility for the issues in the third, Villeneuve, who finished with two assists, said the players were also to blame.
“We just sat back,” Villeneuve said. “We were supposed to be in a 2-1-2 (forecheck), but we just played a trap, and it didn’t work. Walters never gave us that instruction, so it’s on the guys in the room, including me. We have to pay attention to that.”
Greentree-Villeneuve Connection Finding Chemistry
Wednesday’s game was just another reason to keep Greentree and Villeneuve together. Last season, Greentree was among the league leaders with 119 points in 64 games. However, part of that was thanks to his dynamic linemate, Ilya Protas (Washington Capitals).
This season, without Protas, Greentree hasn’t produced as consistently. He had 27 points in his first 15 games but just 11 in his next 13 games, which included two multi-point games. However, since general manager Bill Bowler brought in Villeneuve from the Sudbury Wolves in early January before the deadline, things have changed.
Related: Windsor Spitfires Acquire Villeneuve and Pharand from Wolves in Blockbuster
Last Saturday, on the road against the Brampton Steelheads, Greentree had a goal and three points. On Wednesday, he added his opening-minute goal. While it’s a small sample size, scoring in back-to-back games shows potential. The club needs him to return to his 2024-25 form, or close to it.
Walters continues to put Villeneuve with Greentree, and it’s working. The duo combines speed, offensive creativity, and plenty of grit to wear teams down. Against the Rangers, they added Pharand to their line, and all three earned a point on the opening goal. After the game, Greentree said he likes Villeneuve’s game, and it suits him well. Being able to predict what the other will do really helps the line overall.
“He plays a hard-nosed game, really battles, gets into it,” Greentree said. “He brings a lot of energy. He’s a pretty easy guy to play with and, after playing a little bit together, it’s become easier … I think I know what he’s going to do. I think I know his game, I can predict him, which is huge for guys on your line.”
Villeneuve has been on board with the move. He’ll play with anyone, but noted he’s starting to gel with the captain.
“Me and Greentree are starting to gel together,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of nights where the guys can get together, and I think that’s what’s going to make our team closer down the stretch.”
Walters has been known to juggle lines to get the right feel, and Wednesday was no different. However, the old saying goes “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
“We’re trying our best (to get Greentree with Villeneuve),” Walters said. “They like playing with each other.”
Every Spitfire Point Matters
Losing in overtime wasn’t the way the Spitfires wanted to end the contest. However, they’re looking at the silver lining here. They played a strong defensive game and know what caused the overtime loss. They also realize that the point they earned could go a long way in the future, especially when the clubs meet three more times. Greentree said this was just a taste and they can’t wait for the rest.
“If you ask me, that’s the biggest rivalry in the OHL,” he said. “Since I’ve been here, it’s been one upset after the other. I think this season, we have a different team. I’m really excited. We play them another three times, so we have a lot more battles left.”
It’s also big for the Spitfires’ next two games. The club came into the game a point back of the Firebirds for the top seed in the West, with two games in hand. Now, they’re tied, and the Spitfires still hold a game in hand as the clubs face off in a home-and-home this weekend, starting on Friday at the WFCU Centre in Windsor.
Walters said that, between Wednesday’s game and the upcoming home-and-home, every point will be incredibly important. If you want to win the conference, you have to run the gauntlet.
“It’s a huge point,” said Walters. “We’re tied with (the Firebirds) now with a game in hand. You’re going to have to go through (the Rangers), you’re going to have to go through (the Greyhounds), you’re going to have to go through (the Firebirds). They’re tough games, and we learn from every loss.”
