What: No. 5 Erie Otters at No. 4 Windsor Spitfires

When: Friday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: WFCU Centre – Windsor, Ontario

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters need a win to avoid being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the third straight season. They haven’t won a first-round series since beating Sarnia in 2004. … The franchise is 0-5 in series when trailing 3-1 in games. The Otters lost Game 5 three times. … The Otters have lost three straight for the first time since October. … G Ramis Sadikov (1-2-1 record, 3.81 goals-against average, .906 save percentage) has allowed 10 goals on his last 70 shots (7.05 GAA, .875 save pct.). … Rookie backup G Chris Festarini has allowed three goals on 18 shots in 35 minutes of play (5.12 GAA, .833 save pct.). … The Otters were 1-for-6 on the power play in their Game 4 loss Monday to fall to 3-for-27 in the series. … C Mike Cazzola (3 goals, 2 assists for 5 points) and RW Shawn Szydlowski (2-3-5) have points in the past three games. … C Phil Varone (1-3-4) has points in three of four games. … Coach Robbie Ftorek said F Andrew Yogan missed Game 4 because he was ill and banged up. “We’ve got to see how that works its way out,” Ftorek said.

Windsor – LW Tom Kuhnhackl (2-3-5) rebounded from a leg injury in Game 3 by totaling two goals and two assists in Game 4. … RW Jake Carrick (3-3-6) has more goals and points in this series than in his previous 19 playoff games (1-2-3 with Sault Ste. Marie in 2008 and 2010). … C Stephen Johnston (3-3-6), RW Zack Kassian (1-4-5) and D Adrian Robertson (0-5-5) also lead the offense. … Six different players recorded at least two points in the Game 4 win. … The Spitfires have recorded 40 or more shots on goal in all four games (44.5 per-game average). … The power-play unit has capitalized on 4-of-14 chances in the past two games after failing on 16-of-17 opportunities in the first two games. … G Jack Campbell has a 3-1 record, 2.44 GAA and .920 save pct. in the series.

Up next: Game 6 at Erie (Sunday, 4:30 p.m.), Game 7 at Windsor (Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.)*

* If necessary (both games)

– Victor Fernandes

The Windsor Spitfires have taken command of their series with the Erie Otters.

The Spitfires exploded for seven goals on 42 shots in a 7-4 win against the Otters in Game 4 of their best-of-seven quarterfinal series, played in front of 3,316 at Tullio Arena on Wednesday night.

The Spitfires, which lead 3-1 in the series, can eliminate the Otters with a win in Game 5 on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario. Seven Spitfires contributed multiple points in the win.

Tom Kuhnhackl led the way with two goals and two assists. Alexander Khokhlachev (two goals, assist) and Jake Carrick (goal, two assists) had three points apiece. David Shields had two points for the Otters.

The shootout many expected from two of the OHL’s top offenses finally erupted in the first period.

The teams scored five goals on 15 shots, with the Spitfires building a 3-2 lead. Windsor scored on their first two shots to chase Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov from the game for the second straight outing.

Kuhnhackl, who left Game 3 early on Monday with an apparent leg injury, beat Sadikov for a 1-0 lead 1:27 into the opening period. Khokhlachev scored from in front at the 3:52 mark.

Tyler Hostetter scored less than five minutes later to slice the Otters’ deficit to 2-1, only to have Stephen Johnston score on the power play against rookie backup Chris Festarini with 7:06 left in the period to regain the Spitfires’ two-goal lead. Windsor scored its first three goals on four shots.

Then with 4:15 left in the period, Shields slipped a shot past Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell to send the Otters into the first intermission trailing 3-2. The Otters scored twice on nine shots.

But Zack Kassian’s first goal of the series 47 seconds into the second period, which handed the Spitfires a 4-2 lead, forced Otters coach Robbie Ftorek to send Sadikov back into the game.

Greg McKegg pulled the Otters within a goal again at 4-3, as he fired a rebound of Shawn Szydlowski’s shot off the post past Campbell 4:56 into the period. But McKegg’s goaltender interference penalty led to Kuhnhackl’s power-play score – his second goal of the game and series – that extended the Spitfires’ lead to 5-3 with 11:27 left in the period. Carrick scored five minutes later for a 6-3 lead.

The Spitfires scored those six goals on 18 shots. The Otters moved within 6-4 at the 5:01 mark of the third period, as Mike Cazzola poked in a rebound late in a 5-on-3 opportunity. But Khokhlachev scored his second goal of the night less than 2 minutes later to extend Windsor’s lead to 7-4. Windsor outshot the Otters 22-7 in the third to finish with a 48-26 advantage.

- Victor Fernandes

Series schedule

No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Erie

Game 1 – Erie 2, Windsor 1

Game 2 – Windsor 4, Erie 3 (2OT)

Game 3 – Windsor 6, Erie 2

Game 4 – Windsor 7, Erie 4

Game 5 – Friday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 – Sunday at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – Tuesday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Windsor leads series 3-1

* If necessary

SUMMARY

Spitfires 7, Otters 4

Windsor  3  3  1  —  7

Erie  2  1  1  —  4

1^st Period — 1. Windsor, Tom Kuhnhackl 1 (Duininck), 1:27. 2. Windsor, Alexander Khokhlachev 1 (Robertson, Kuhnhackl), 3:52. 3. Erie, Tyler Hostetter 1 (Festarini), 8:27. 4. Windsor, Stephen Johnston 3 (Kassian, Duininck), 12:54 (pp). 5. Erie, David Shields 1 (Luciani, Holden), 15:45. Penalties — Rychel (W) tripping, 4:11; Cook (E) checking from behind, 12:16; Carrick (W) hooking, 14:08; Thompson (E) tripping, 15:31.

2^nd Period — 6. Windsor, Zack Kassian 1 (Ryan, Johnston), :47. 7. Erie, Greg McKegg 2 (Szydlowski, Shields), 4:56. 8. Windsor, Kuhnhackl 2 (Carrick, Khokhlachev), 8:33 (pp). 9. Windsor, Jake Carrick 3 (Kuhnhackl), 13:34. Penalties — McKegg (E) goaltender interference, 8:24; Kassian (W) roughing, 15:51.

3^rd Period — 10. Erie, Mike Cazzola 3 (Szydlowski, Varone), 5:01 (pp). 11. Windsor, Khokhlachev 2 (Carrick, Robertson), 6:50. Penalties — Luciani (E) 4-min. roughing, 2:04; Khokhlachev (W) roughing, 2:04; Robertson (W) roughing, 2:04; Varone (E) slashing, 2:04; Ellis (E) slashing, 3:04; Johnston (W) tripping, 4:21; Carnevale (W) holding, 9:37; Luciani (E) roughing, 13:09; Szydlowski (E) slashing, 14:44; Kassian (W) roughing, 14:44; Crisp (E) slashing, 17:00.

Shots on goal — Windsor, 9-17-22—42; Erie, 6-13-7—26.

Goaltenders — Windsor, Jack Campbell 3-1-0 (26 shots, 22 saves); Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-2-1 (37shots, 32 saves), Chris Festarini (11 shots, 9 saves).

Power plays — Windsor (2-6), Erie (1-6).

Referees — Craig Spada, Mike Cairns. Linesmen — Darryl Wolfe, Matthew Traub.

Attendance — 3,316.

Three stars

* Tom Kuhnhackl, Spitfires (2 goals, 2 assists) ** Alexander Khokhlachev, Spitfires (2 goals, assist) *** Mike Cazzola, Otters (goal)

WINDSOR, Ontario – It took only a minute for a tight game to turn into a rout.

The Windsor Spitfires scored three goals on four shots in a span of 1 minute, 2 seconds early in the third period on their way to a 6-2 win against the Erie Otters in front of 5,655 at WFCU Centre on Monday night.

With the victory, the Spitfires took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference quarterfinal series heading into Game 4 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Tullio Arena. Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov was on his way to another strong effort until Kerby Rychel’s floating shot from the point bounced off his glove and then the crossbar.

Jeff Brown scored on the rebound to hand the Spitfires a 4-2 lead 1:14 into the third. Thirty-two seconds later, Sadikov stopped Rychel’s shot. But Sadikov couldn’t find the puck between his skates.

Brady Vail scored to extend Windsor’s lead to 5-2 and send Sadikov to the bench. He allowed five goals on 32 shots before being replaced by rookie Chris Festarini. Kenny Ryan followed with a goal on the first shot against Festarini for a 6-2 lead at the 2:16 mark. Festarini finished with five saves on six shots.

At first, it appeared Sadikov and Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell (30 saves) would keep these potent offenses off the scoreboard in the opening period. But a late power play sparked the Spitfires’ attack.

Windsor, which scored on 1-of-17 chances with the man advantage in the first two games, scored on 2-of-4 chances in the first period to take a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.

Stephen Johnston poked a rebound past Sadikov for his second goal of the series and a 1-0 lead with 4:42 left in the period. The Otters responded 26 seconds later on Mike Cazzola’s second goal of the series.

But the Spitfires capitalized on a 5-on-3 opportunity, as Jake Carrick scored on assists from Zack Kassian – his second of the period – and Ryan Ellis with 1:40 left in the period.

Windsor outshot the Otters 18-10 in the period. The Spitfires continued their offensive momentum in the second period, as they outshot the Otters 11-7. The Spitfires also responded to Shawn Szydlowski’s tying power-play goal with 4:54 left in the period by taking a 3-2 lead on Ryan Ellis‘ unassisted goal less than two minutes later.  A poor clearing attempt from the Otters led to the go-ahead goal.

Then the Spitfires put the game away early in the third. Ellis (goal, assist), Johnston (goal, assist), Carrick (goal, assist), Kassian (two assists) and Adrian Robertson (two assists) led the Spitfires.

- Victor Fernandes

Series schedule

No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Erie

Game 1 – Erie 2, Windsor 1

Game 2 – Windsor 4, Erie 3 (2OT)

Game 3 – Windsor 6, Erie 2

Game 4 – Wednesday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – Friday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 6 – Sunday at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Windsor leads series 2-1

* If necessary

SUMMARY

Spitfires 6, Otters 2

Erie  1  1  0  —  2

Windsor  2  1  3  —  6

1^st Period — 1. Windsor, Stephen Johnston 2 (Kassian, Robertson), 15:18 (pp). 2. Erie, Mike Cazzola 2 (Yogan, Pelech), 15:44. 3. Windsor, Jake Carrick 2 (Kassian, Ellis), 18:20 (pp). Penalties — Ryan (W) high sticking, :38; Thompson (E) tripping, 3:08; Cazzola (E) hooking, 14:32; Thompson (E) roughing, 15:06; MacQueen (W) roughing, 15:06; Cairns (E) tripping, 17:09; Cazzola (E) roughing, 17:38.

2^nd Period — 4. Erie, Shawn Szydlowski 2 (Cook, Hostetter), 15:06 (pp). 5. Windsor, Ryan Ellis 1  (unassisted), 17:12. Penalties — McKegg (E) charging, 1:45; Kassian (W) boarding, 3:53; Johnston (W) high sticking, 7:52; Cook (E) roughing, 11:53; Kassian (W) unsportsmanlike conduct, 13:46; Yogan (E) kneeing, 17:35; Khokhlachev (W) hooking, 18:48.

3^rd Period — 6. Windsor, Jeff Brown 3 (Rychel), 1:14. 7. Windsor, Brady Vail 1 (Rychel), 1:46. 8. Windsor, Kenny Ryan 1 (unassisted), 2:16. Penalties — Brown (W) high sticking, 7:19; Cazzola (E) hooking, 7:24; Czinder (W) interference, 10:28; Luciani (E) roughing, 10:37; Robertson (W) roughing, 10:37; Czinder (W) instigating, 18:28; Appio (E) 5-min. fighting, 18:28; Czinder (W) 5-min. fighting, 18:28; Czinder (W) 10-min. misconduct, 18:28.

Shots on goal — Erie, 10-7-15—32; Windsor, 18-11-11—40.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-1-1 (33 shots, 28 saves), Chris Festarini (7 shots, 6 saves); Windsor, Jack Campbell 1-1-0 (32 shots, 30 saves).

Power plays — Erie (1-7), Windsor (2-7).

Referees — Jason Faist, Bob Langdon. Linesmen — Garrett Rank, Chris Thornton.

Attendance — 5,655.

Three stars

* Zack Kassian, Spitfires (2 assists) ** Jack Campbell, Spitfires (30 saves) *** Stephen Johnston, Spitfires (goal, assist)

What: No. 4 Erie Otters vs. No. 5 Windsor Spitfires

When: Monday, 7:05 p.m.

Where: WFCU Centre – Windsor, Ontario

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Fast facts

Erie – The Game 2 loss to the Spitfires on Saturday at Tullio Arena snapped the Otters’ nine-game overall winning streak and five-game home winning streak. … The Otters won Game 1 in Windsor on Thursday. … C Mike Cazzola had a goal and two assists on Saturday. He has four goals and nine points in 11 career playoff games. … Cazzola and C Phil Varone lead the Otters with a goal and three points in the series. … F Andrew Yogan had an assist in Game 2 – his first point in seven career playoff games. But he spent most of the third period and both overtimes on the bench after dropping from the No. 1 line to the fourth line. Coach Robbie Ftorek said rookie RW Macaulay McDonnell provided a better matchup on home ice in the game. “We’ll see what happens,” Ftorek said. “We just have to move the lines around.” … The Otters are third on the penalty kill in the playoffs (94.1 percent) after finishing second in the regular season (83.2). … G Ramis Sadikov has stopped 85-of-90 shots in the series.

Windsor – G Jack Campbell followed a strong performance in the Game 1 loss (35 saves on 37 shots) with 40 saves on 43 shots in Game 2. He also had an assist on Saturday. … D Ryan Ellis, who had 100 points in the regular season, had a goal and assist for the Spitfires after being shut out in Game 1. … Overage RW Jeff Brown scored his first two career playoff goals in the Game 2 win, including the winner in the second overtime. He had no previous playoff experience before this series. … RW Zack Kassian, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, has no goals and one point in the series.

Up next: Game 4 at Erie (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), Game 5 at Windsor (Friday, 7:05 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

Series schedule

No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Erie

Game 1 – Erie 2, Windsor 1

Game 2 – Windsor 4, Erie 3 (2OT)

Game 3 – Monday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 – Wednesday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – Friday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 6 – Sunday at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Series tied 1-1

* If necessary

What: No. 4 Erie Otters vs. No. 5 Windsor Spitfires

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have won nine straight games. They haven’t lost since a 6-5 home loss to Peterborough on Feb. 26. … Their 2-1 win in Game 1 on Thursday at WFCU Centre in Windsor, Ontario, was the Otters’ first playoff victory since March 25, 2009, when they beat London in Game 3 of a first-round series. … The Otters won for only the fourth time in the past 17 playoff games since their last series win against Sarnia in 2004. … The Otters are 6-2 all-time when winning the first game of a series. … G Ramis Sadikov stopped 40-of-41 shots to earn his first OHL playoff win in his third appearance. … The winner of the last two series between these teams has won the OHL championship and advanced to the Memorial Cup (Otters in 2002, Spitfires in 2010). … The Otters’ penalty kill was successful on 10-of-11, man-down situations in Game 1. The unit finished No. 2 overall in the regular season (83.2 percent). … C Phil Varone scored short-handed in the opener – his 12^th goal in 20 career playoff games. … RW Brett Thompson had two assists in the win. Yet he’s still looking for his first career playoff goal (0 goals, 4 points in 6 games). … Former Otters coach Dave MacQueen (1999-2006) is expected to attend tonight’s game. His son, Zack MacQueen, plays right wing for the Spitfires.

Windsor – The Spitfires split two games in Erie during the regular season – a 3-2 win Oct. 29 and an 8-2 loss Feb. 5. … They were 18-14-2-0 on the road in the regular season. … G Jack Campbell had a strong performance in the Game 1 loss (35 saves on 37 shots) after struggling in the regular season (24-14-2-2 record, 3.80 goals-against average, .884 save percentage). … D Ryan Ellis, a Nashville Predators prospect, was held scoreless in Game 1 after being the first OHL defenseman in 16 years to reach 100 points in the regular season. … RW Zack Kassian, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, had an assist Thursday.

Up next: Game 3 at Windsor (Monday, 7:05 p.m.), Game 4 at Erie (Wednesday, 7 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

WINDSOR, Ontario – The Erie Otters played with fire against the Windsor Spitfires.

But the Otters’ penalty kill stopped the Spitfires on 10-of-11 chances on the power play on the way to a 2-1 win in Game 1 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series at WFCU Centre on Thursday night.

Phil Varone scored short-handed in the first period. Anthony Luciani scored the eventual winning goal early in the second. Ramis Sadikov stopped 40-of-41 shots. The Otters will take a 1-0 series lead into Game 2 on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Tullio Arena.

The Otters controlled play at the outset and also had several scoring opportunities. But it took a Spitfires’ power play for the Otters to score their first goal of the postseason. Varone and Brett Thompson turned a short-handed, 2-on-1 chance into the game’s opening goal with 4:49 left in the first period.

Varone redirected Thompson’s cross-ice pass past Spitfires goaltender Jack Campbell. Yet the Spitfires seemed to gain momentum late in the period. That momentum carried over into the second, even after Thompson set up Luciani’s goal 1:20 into the period for a 2-0 Otters’ lead.

Then at the 3:04 mark, Otters winger Brett Appio was called for hooking. Six seconds later, Stephen Johnston beat Otters goaltender Ramis Sadikov to slice Erie’s lead in half at 2-1. Zack Kassian and Adrian Robertson earned assists on the power-play goal.

After that, the surging Spitfires had several quality chances to the tie the score. But the Otters, especially their penalty kill, held off the Spitfires to take the one-goal lead into the third. Windsor outshot the Otters 15-10 in the period. But Sadikov stopped 14 of those 15 shots.

The Spitfires enjoyed four more power plays in the third, including a 5-on-3 for 46 seconds late in the period. But the Otters thwarted all of them to secure a hard-earned victory.

- Victor Fernandes

Series schedule

No. 4 Windsor vs. No. 5 Erie

Game 1 – Erie 2, Windsor 1

Game 2 – Saturday at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 3 – Monday at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 – March 30 at Erie, 7 p.m.

Game 5 – April 1 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Game 6 – April 3 at Erie, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7 – April 5 at Windsor, 7:05 p.m.*

Erie leads series 1-0

* If necessary

SUMMARY

Otters 2, Spitfires 1

Erie  1  1  0  —  2

Windsor  0  1  0  —  1

1^st Period — 1. Erie, Phil Varone 1 (Thompson, Shields), 15:11 (sh). Penalties — Ryan (W) slashing, 1:35; Rychel (W) hooking, 7:48; Cook (E) unsportsmanlike conduct, 7:48; Kassian (W) charging, 8:32; Appio (E) interference, 11:02; Holden (E) checking from behind, 13:25; Pelech (E) holding, 18:51.

2^nd Period — 2. Erie, Anthony Luciani 1 (Thompson, Varone), 1:20. 3. Windsor, Stephen Johnston 1 (Kassian, Robertson), 3:10 (pp). Penalties — Appio (E) hooking, 3:04; Vail (W) cross checking, 7:54; Paton (E) hooking, 10:37; Yogan (E) interference, 13:22; Cook (E) tripping, 15:13; Cook (E) 5-min. fighting, 15:13; Carrick (W) 5-min. fighting, 15:13; Cazzola (E) slashing, 17:27; Ebert (W) slashing, 17:27.

3^rd Period — None. Penalties — Luciani (E) tripping, 5:19; Szydlowski (E) delay of game, 8:59; Appio (E) goaltender interference, 15:37; Szydlowski (E) high sticking, 16:51.

Shots on goal — Erie, 13-10-14—37; Windsor, 15-15-11—41.

Goaltenders — Erie, Ramis Sadikov 1-0-0 (41 shots, 40 saves); Windsor, Jack Campbell 0-1-0 (37 shots, 35 saves).

Power plays — Erie (0-3), Windsor (1-11).

Referees — Dave Lewis, Scott Hoberg. Linesmen — Sean Pindar, Ryan Lachine.

Attendance — 5,524.

Three stars

* Ramis Sadikov, Otters (40 saves) ** Jack Campbell, Spitfires (35 saves) *** Brett Thompson, Otters (2 assists)

The Erie Otters have acquired 19-year-old C Brett Thompson (25 goals, 46 points this season) and a draft pick from Sault Ste. Marie for LW David Broll and three picks, Dave Brown, Otters assistant manager of hockey operations, has confirmed today.

The Otters also sent a 2013 third-round pick and 2014 fourth-round pick in the OHL Priority Selection, as well as a first-round pick in the 2011 CHL Import Draft, to the Greyhounds. The Otters received a second-round pick in the 2011 CHL draft.

Brown said Thompson, who had 42 goals and 65 points with the Greyhounds last season, was one of the forwards club officials were pursuing. Club officials didn’t pursue forwards at the heart of trade rumors, such as C Taylor Carnevale (traded by Barrie to Windsor), Windsor RW Zack Kassian and Sudbury LW Marcus Foligno.

Brown didn’t anticipate any further moves by the Otters before the league’s noon deadline. Sherry Bassin, Otters managing partner and general manager, hasn’t returned a telephone message left today.

- Victor Fernandes

The Erie Otters are focused on acquiring a forward before the OHL trade deadline arrives at noon Monday.

But high-profile forwards, such as Windsor RW Zack Kassian , don’t appear to be in the mix.

“The price is going to be pretty expensive,” said Dave Brown, assistant manager of hockey operations. “We’ve got a real good hockey team. We want to make them better if we can with a trade. But we also have to be careful that we don’t cut off our nose to spite our face.”

That presumably also should take Sudbury LW Marcus Foligno, who like Kassian has been a hot topic of trade rumors, off the Otters’ list.

Instead, the Otters seem interested in second-tier forwards that could complement a frontline that includes five potent scorers (Mike Cazzola, Anthony Luciani, Greg McKegg, Shawn Szydlowski and Phil Varone) and should add a sixth in Andrew Yogan next month. He continues to rehabilitate from shoulder surgery.

“We’re looking to do more trades that are fair and equitable for both sides than a trade where it’s a complete dump,” Brown said. “We’re more on the kind of player that fits what our needs are. We’re looking for a well-rounded player to help take us deep into the playoffs.”

Brown also said he doesn’t envision the Otters attempting to acquire Barrie’s Dalton Prout, an overage defenseman that also has been the subject of trade rumors. The Otters already have the league limit of three OAs – Luciani, Szydlowski and Varone.

“It’s not a fit for our hockey club,” Brown said. “Our overage guys, they all contribute to our team on a regular basis.”

For now, the trade market remains quiet – a normal occurrence until after the annual IIHF World Junior Championship. The tournament concluded Wednesday. Club officials want to make a deal “to try to make our team better,” Brown said. “Does that mean I can guarantee that we’re going to make a deal? I can’t promise that. We’re going to do everything we can to make this push because we believe in these guys. I think they believe in themselves. I want to go on a long playoff run with these guys.”

- Victor Fernandes

WINDSOR, Ontario – Mike Cazzola made a grand return to the Erie Otters’ lineup on Thursday.

Cazzola, who missed nearly two months with a broken wrist, scored a goal to help the Otters end 2010 on a high note – with a 5-3 win against Windsor in front of 6,558 at WFCU Centre.

Cazzola scored with 1 minute, 33 seconds left in the second period – his 10^th goal of the season – to cap a stretch of three unanswered goals in nine minutes that turned a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead. Goals from Phil Varone and David Broll sparked the Otters’ decisive outburst.

Windsor (21-14-0-1) tied the score at 3-3 with 9:45 left in the third on Alexander Khokhlachev’s second goal of the game. But Otters defenseman Brett Cook fired a shot past goaltender Troy Passingham to snap the tie with 4:45 left. Shawn Szydlowski’s short-handed goal with 2:39 left to seal the win.

The Otters (18-18-1-1) salvaged a win on their three-game West Division trip. They have won only two of nine games against that division (2-6-0-1). Cook and Varone had a goal and assist apiece for the Otters, which outshot Windsor 51-31. Brady Austin added two assists.

Passingham made 46 saves for the Spitfires, which are playing without goaltender Jack Campbell, defenseman Ryan Ellis and forwards Zack Kassian and Tom Kuhnhackl. They’re playing in the IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.

The Otters return to action Wednesday at Tullio Arena against Niagara.

- Victor Fernandes

What: Erie Otters (17-18-1-1) at Windsor Spitfires (21-13-0-1)

When: Thursday, 2:05 p.m.

Where: WFCU Centre – Windsor, Ontario

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (25 goals, 28 assists, 53 points), RW Shawn Szydlowski (17-15-32), RW Anthony Luciani (13-18-31), G Ramis Sadikov (17-14-1-1 record, 2.95 goals-against average, .911 save percentage, 2 shutouts), C Phil Varone (13-14-27)

Windsor – C Alexander Khokhlachev (16-28-44), G Troy Passingham (9-4-0-1, 3.00, .902), C Eric Locke (19-13-32), C Stephen Johnston (8-22-30), RW Kenny Ryan (10-17-27)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters complete a three-game West Division road trip against the Spitfires, who won the first two meetings in the four-game season series (5-3 in Windsor Oct. 14 and 3-2 in Erie Oct. 29). … The Otters are 1-6-0-1 against West Division teams. … Rookie LW Chris Marchese (3-7-10), rookie D Adam Pelech (1-5-6, plus-1) and Team Ontario topped Czech Republic 7-1 Wednesday in their opener at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Marchese had a goal and assist for Ontario, which faced Slovakia late Thursday night in Winnipeg. … McKegg and Luciani have a combined three points in the team’s last four games. … Sadikov extended his franchise-record streak of consecutive starts to 27 games in Wednesday’s loss to Saginaw. … The Otters are 8-10-1-0 on the road.

Windsor – RW Zack Kassian (15-33-48) and D Ryan Ellis (12-28-40) are representing their native Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo. … G Jack Campbell (12-9-0-0, 3.68, .887) is playing for the United States. … C Tom Kuhnhackl (17-16-33) is playing for Germany. … The Spitfires, who are fourth in the Western Conference, have lost two straight after a stretch of seven wins in eight games. … They are among the top 10 on the power play (21.4 percent) and penalty kill (80.7).

Up next: vs. Niagara (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), at Kitchener (Jan. 7, 7:30 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes