OHL Round 2: 3 Takeaways From Spitfires’ 6-5 Game 2 Win at Home vs Firebirds – The Hockey Writers – OHL

The Windsor Spitfires continue to fly. Despite trailing the Flint Firebirds in Game 2 of their 2025-26 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) second-round series on Sunday, they found a way to mount a comeback and come out on top.

Clubs are not strangers. They battled all season with the Western Conference’s second-seeded Spitfires winning the West Division over the third-seeded Firebirds by just two points. Now, with the first round out, the two will go head-to-head in what is expected to be a long, hard-fought series. With the Spitfires up 1-0, thanks to a 4-2 home win on Friday, the two meet at the WFCU Center on Sunday in Game 2. Here are three takeaways from this fast-paced classic.

The Spitfires Refused to Quit

The Spitfires are a defense-first club and managed to hold off an attack-minded Firebirds club in Game 1. However, Game 2 was expected to be different… and it was.

Similar to Game 1, the Spitfires took a 2-0 lead, including captain Liam Greentree (New York Rangers). However, the Firebirds forward, Kevin He (Winnipeg Jets) cut it to one. The teams then traded goals for a 3-2 Spitfires lead after the first.

In the second, the visitors tied it up and started to press. The Spitfires couldn’t keep up offensively and had no answers to the visitor’s pressure. Late in the period, Firebirds captain, Nathan Aspinall (Rangers) scored two goals to give them a 5-3 lead going into the third.

Look for a comeback. Spitfires rookie Caden Harvey added his second of the game early in the third, followed by forward Jack Nesbitt, who tied the game with seven minutes remaining. Then, with a minute left, Spitfires defenseman Conor Walton pounced, pounced on a loose puck, and beat goaltender Mason Vaccari to give the home team a stunning 6-5 victory and a 2-0 series lead.

The Spitfires knew the Firebirds would come out strong offensively. However, Spitfires head coach Greg Walters said everyone was there to make the right plays.

“The boys just got into the boat,” he said. “The hype wasn’t real. We talked about making the right plays at the right time and scoring goals in big moments. Our guys did that.”

Walton’s goal was his sixth game-winning goal, out of 11 goals. He was all smiles after the game and said he saw Cole Davis go to the net, so the squeeze was worth a shot.

“It’s safe to jump in there,” Walton said. “I’m just trying to hit the net, don’t miss it, it was rolling a little, just hit it hard, I saw where it was going, I don’t even know what I was doing, I just blacked out after scoring the goal, then I saw Davis and I said let’s go!

Windsor #The fire scored three unanswered third-period goals, including the game-winner with 60 seconds left, to beat Flint #Licks 6-5 at the WFCU Center on Sunday in Game 2. The series is now 2-0 Spitfires with Game 3 and 4 in Flint on Tuesday/Thursday. #OHL pic.twitter.com/F3egDXYV55

– Dave Jewell (@DaveJewellOHL) April 13, 2026

Walters is highly regarded for the 19-year veteran. He said Walton is the type of guy you want on your team.

“He scores goals and big goals for us,” said Walters. “He’s one of the best linebackers in the league, one of the best kids, a great leader in our young guys’ room, and he’s been rewarded.”

Firebirds Flex Offensive Muscles

Make no mistake – despite the loss, the Firebirds showed why they were right there with the Spitfires in the second half. This is a big team, that plays at the rim, and that can move the puck at will.

Going into the season, it was difficult to predict where they would finish in the top. The past two seasons, they finished sixth and eighth in the conference, respectively. They had talent with Aspinall and forwards Jimmy Lombardi and Alex Kostov, but was it enough?

This season, they brought him and Jacob Battaglia (from the Kingston Frontenacs), and Vaccari last summer. Add in career seasons from Aspinall and Lombardi, and you have a team that can target you offensively and pressure you defensively.

After scoring only two goals in Game 1, the Firebirds flexed their offensive muscles in Game 2. He, Lombardi, and Aspinall combined for six points and were able to cast doubt on the Spitfires’ credibility. Walton said they came as advertised.

“They’re really nice,” she said. “You saw the number of goals, they can score a goal quickly, they can score a goal in a hurry.

When you have an offense like that, you get respect from the whole league. Walters said that the Firebirds used their opportunities, while it was the will of the Spitfires not to lose to the runners-up.

“They are a great team,” he said. “We had a lot of chances. We beat them on their chances. Their best player (Aspinall) scored back-to-back goals. The competitiveness and not wanting to lose, it’s a big statement (for the Spitfires).”

Spitfires Show Leadership After Denied Goal

Although the games were fun at the end, there were two situations during the game that will be talked about until the start of the 3rd game.

Late in the second half, following Aspinall’s first goal, Greentree got into a fight with the Firebirds’ Darian Anderson. Both were ejected from the game and could face suspensions. Then in the third period, Nesbitt shot past Vaccari for what was believed to be the game-tying goal. However, the officials waved it off, saying it was a high stick. The replay was deemed incomplete, so it was ruled a non-goal. It was moments later that Nesbitt finally tied the game, officially.

Related: Liam Greentree: Everything you need to know about Rangers’ new signing

Even though they were defeated by their captain the whole game, Walters said that other leaders stood up from the bench and refused to let the goal that was conceded disturb them.

“They were good, our lead team,” he said. “(Forwarder Anthony) Cristoforo was like, ‘If it’s not allowed, it’s okay guys. We’ll find another one.’ They went down and scored a goal. I couldn’t be prouder of these kids.”

Walton has been with the team for three seasons now and is one of the leaders in the room. He said that in a situation like this, you have to manage emotions well.

“We were really excited about it,” he said. “Apart from Greentree, all the other guys stood up. We said stay calm but use that emotion, use that fire. We knew we were going to get this next goal.”

The Spitfires always use a “next man up” philosophy where, if someone is out of the lineup for whatever reason, the next person steps up and takes over. Walters has consistently praised his leadership team, and this was another example of them stepping up when needed.

With the Spitfires now holding a 2-0 lead, the series shifts to Flint, MI. Game 3 will be on Tuesday. April 14, and Game 4 is on Thursday. April 16. Both puck drops are at 7:00 pm