News Release

       Contact: Pete Krupsky                                                   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

       Phone: (734) 453-8400                                                Tuesday, March 11, 2008

WESTERN CONFERENCE PLAYOFF RACE TIGHTENS UP MORE IN WINDSOR’S 5-3 WIN OVER PLYMOUTH

WINDSOR –  Taylor’s Hall’s 42nd goal of the year at 15:37 of the first period gave the Windsor Spitfires a 4-2 lead and the Spitfires went on the defeat the Plymouth Whalers, 5-3, in an Ontario Hockey League game played before 3,541 at Windsor Arena.

As a result of the Plymouth loss, fifth through eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race tightened even more:

5th – Plymouth – 65 games, 34-26-2-3, 73 points.

6th – Guelph – 65 games, 32-24-5-4, 73 points.

7th – Sarnia – 65 games, 35-28-2-0, 72 points.

8th – Saginaw – 65 games, 32-25-6-2, 72 points.

The Whalers, Storm, Sting and Spirit all have three games to play in the OHL’s 68-game schedule. The regular season ends Sunday.

Josh Bailey led the Windsor attack with two goals (28-29) and an assist and was +4 on the evening as the game’s third star. Greg Nemisz (33, +3), Ryan Ellis (14) and Hall scored singles for the Spitfires. Andrew Fournier (35), Kaine Geldart (12) and Vern Cooper (18) scored for Plymouth. Veteran Chris Terry added an assist to hit the 100-point mark with 44 goals and 56 assists on the season. Terry is the 14th player in Whalers history to score 100 points in a season.

Windsor led, 4-2, after one period. After Fournier (1:09) and Ellis (1:53) opened the scoring, Plymouth took a 2-1 lead at 10:09 of the period when Terry – stationed at the right half-boards in the Windsor zone – found Geldart parked at the left side of the Windsor crease. Geldart scored on a re-direct past Windsor goaltender Jakub Kovar. Bailey tied the game at 2-2, scoring from the hash marks as the late man on a rush after accepting a pass from Jordan Nolan and beating Plymouth goaltender Matt Hackett.  Windsor then took their first lead of the game on goals by Nemisz at 15:08 (hard shot from the right circle over Hackett’s shoulder) and Hall at 15:37 (rebound off a Nemisz shot).

Plymouth scored the only goal of the second period to cut the Windsor lead to 4-3. The forward line of Vern Cooper, Joe Gaynor and Joe McCann teamed up on Cooper’s 18th of the year at 9:14. Gaynor chased the puck deep in the Windsor zone to the end wall and beat a Spitfire defender to the puck. Gaynor centered the puck out in front of the Windsor goal and Cooper beat Kovar with the shot, top shelf.

Plymouth outshot Windsor, 11-9, in the third period, but the Spitfires scored the only goal in the third frame. Plymouth coach Joe Stefan pulled goaltender Hackett and called a time-out with 1:02 remaining in regulation and a faceoff in the Windsor zone. But Bailey scored on the empty net with 0:03 left to close the scoring.

Plymouth remains on the road Friday in Sault Ste. Marie and will return home Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Compuware Arena against Sarnia. The Whalers complete the regular season Sunday afternoon in Saginaw against the Spirit.

Tickets can be purchased for all Plymouth games by calling the Compuware Arena at (734) 453-8400 or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

About the Plymouth Whalers

The Plymouth Whalers are the only Metro Detroit team in the Ontario Hockey League, a developmental league for National Hockey League players. The Whalers all range in age from 15-21 years-old and are consistently one of the top teams in the OHL. In 2006-07, the Whalers won the OHL Championship.  www.plymouthwhalers.com

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