The Windsor Spitfires continue to roll along. Despite falling behind the Flint Firebirds in Game 2 of their 2025-26 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) second-round series on Sunday, they found a way to stage a comeback and come out on top. The clubs are no strangers to each other.
They battled throughout the 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 of the way, the two are going head-to-head in what is expected to be a long, tough series. With the Spitfires leading the series 1-0, thanks to a 4-2 win at home on Friday, the two faced off at the WFCU Centre on Sunday in Game 2.
Here are three takeaways from this instant classic. Spitfires Refuse to Quit The Spitfires are a defence-first club and managed to stifle an offensive-minded Firebirds’ club in Game 1. However, Game 2 was expected to be different… and it was.
Similar to Game 1, the Spitfires grabbed a 2-0 lead, including one from captain Liam Greentree (New York Rangers). However, Firebirds’ forward Kevin He (Winnipeg Jets) cut the lead to one. The teams then exchanged 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 get going offensively and had no answers for the visitor’s offensive push. Late in the period, Firebirds’ captain Nathan Aspinall (Rangers) scored a pair to give them the 5-3 lead entering the third.
Cue the 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 left. Then, with a minute left, Spitfires’ defenceman Conor Walton pinched, smacked the loose puck, and beat goaltender Mason Vaccari to give the home side a dramatic 6-5 win 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 on board for making the right plays. “The guys just all got on board,” he said.
“The forecheck was unreal. We talked about making the right plays at the right time and scoring in big moments. Our guys did that.
” Walton’s goal was his sixth career game-winner, out of 11 goals. He was all smiles after the game and said he saw Cole Davis go to the net, so pinching was worth a shot. “There’s no harm to jump in there,” Walton said.
“I’m just trying to hit the net. Just don’t miss. It was rolling a little bit so just hit it as hard as I can and see where it goes.
I don’t even know what I was doing. I blacked out after I scored. I just saw Davis and said ‘let’s go!
'” The Windsor #Spitfires scored three unanswered third-period goals, including the game-winner with 60-seconds left, to beat the Flint #Firebirds 6-5 at the WFCU Centre on Sunday in Game 2. The series is now 2-0 Spitfires with Games 3 and 4 in Flint on Tues/Thurs. #OHL pic.
twitter. com/F3egDXYV55— Dave Jewell (@DaveJewellOHL) April 13, 2026 Walters had plenty of praise for the 19-year-old veteran. He said Walton is the kind of guy you want on your team.
“He scores goals for us and big goals,” Walters said. “He’s one of the best defenders in the league, one of the best kids, a huge leader in the room for our young guys, and he’s rewarded. ” Firebirds Flex Offensive Muscles Make no mistake – despite the loss, the Firebirds showed why they were right there with the Spitfires through the second half.
This is a team that’s big, plays with an edge, and can put the puck in at will. Coming into the season, it was hard to pinpoint where they might finish in the standings. Over the last 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? Nathan Aspinall of the Flint Firebirds. (Natalie Shaver/OHL Images) This season, they brought in He and Jacob Battaglia (from the Kingston Frontenacs), along with Vaccari last summer.
Add in career seasons from Aspinall and Lombardi, and you’ve got a team that can pounce on you offensively while stifling you defensively. After scoring just 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 insert a bit of doubt among the Spitfires’ faithful.
Walton said they come as-advertised. “They’re really good,” he said. “You saw with the amount of goals, they can score fast, they can score in a hurry.
(The Firebirds) went all-in at the deadline and they’re as-advertised. ” When you’ve got that kind of offence, you earn respect around the league. Walters said the Firebirds took advantage of their chances, and it was the Spitfires’ will to not lose that came out on top.
“They’re a great team,” he said. “We had a ton of chances. They scored on their chances.
Their best player (Aspinall) scored back-to-back goals.