PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Matt Mahalak stopped 26 shots for his first shutout of the season and Tom Wilson, Alex Aleardi and Zach Bratina scored goals as the Plymouth Whalers defeated the Windsor Spitfires, 3-0, in an Ontario Hockey League game played Wednesday before 2,575 at Compuware Arena.
The victory moves Plymouth into sole possession of first place in the OHL's West Division with a record of 12-7-3-1, good for 28 points and two points ahead of Sarnia. Windsor is now 9-10-1-4.
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On Nov. 9, Plymouth defeated Windsor, 5-3, pelting Spitfires goaltender Jaroslav Pavelka with 51 shots. Tonight, the Whalers launched 52 shots against Pavelka, who played well and kept the score respectable.
Wilson scored the only goal of the first period, his fourth of the season at 11:36. The play started when Ryan Hartman won a face off in the Windsor zone and found Austin Levi at the left point. Levi's shot was stopped by Pavelka, but Wilson scored on the rebound.
The Whalers put the game away with two goals within 54 seconds in the second period. Aleardi tapped home a rebound at 13:50 for this 10th goal of the year at 13:30 and then Rickard Rakell and Garrett Meurs combined to find linemate Bratina in front of the Windsor goal, who scored his second of the season at 14:44.
Plymouth outshot Windsor, 52-26, over the full 60 minutes and 39-12 over the final two periods.
The Whalers are back in action Friday at 7:05 pm at Compuware Arena, hosting the Kingston Frontenacs