Refocusing is exactly what the Windsor Spitfires needed. After a tough loss on the road on Friday night, the club returned home on Sunday, taking a big win over a division rival.
The Spitfires have been in a battle for the top spot in the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) West Division and Western Conference since the start of the season. They’re fighting off the Flint Firebirds, Kitchener Rangers, and Soo Greyhounds, and each club was a buyer at the January trade deadline. While a 7-2 loss on the road to the Rangers on Friday was mentally tough, the club had a perfect chance to reset and refocus at home on Sunday against the rebuilding Sarnia Sting. It was mission accomplished. Here are three takeaways from the WFCU Centre.
Defence-First Hockey Takes Priority
Since he joined the Spitfires in July 2024, head coach Greg Walters has continuously preached defence-first hockey. If you play the right way in your own zone, you get the puck faster and can create offensively. The club got away from that on Friday, and it cost them. On Sunday, it was a different story.
The Sting came to town as the last seed in the Western Conference. They’re young, they’re rebuilding, and they’re fighting for that last playoff seed. However, they’ve given the Spitfires fits all season, and Walters’ club had to be ready.
They were ready, and it showed very early. From the opening puck drop, they kept the Sting away from goaltender Michael Newlove and set the early forecheck. It worked as rookie Beksultan Makysh opened the scoring just over four minutes in.
While the clubs played tight-checking, defensive hockey for much of the first two periods, the Spitfires had no issues with that. They did their part in the defensive zone and found ways to put home two more in the second period, thanks to captain Liam Greentree (Los Angeles Kings) and Alex Pharand (Chicago Blackhawks). Veteran forward Nathan Villeneuve (Seattle Kraken) added one in the third before Sting veteran Ben Pickell broke the goose-egg for the visitors in the third. However, that’s all they would get as the home side took it 4-1. The shots were 28-11 Spitfires.
The Windsor #Spitfires scored early, used strong defence, and came away with a 4-1 win over the Sarnia #Sting on Sunday evening at the WFCU Centre. #OHL pic.twitter.com/RUFl7rys8S
— Dave Jewell (@DaveJewellOHL) February 2, 2026
The Spitfires wanted two things: get back to defence-first hockey and stay disciplined. They gave up seven power plays to the Rangers on Friday, and that can’t happen. On Sunday, the Sting got three chances. Walters said they executed their plan.
“The boys definitely bought in,” he said. “Defensively, we were great. A lot of o(ffensive)-zone movement, we had a lot of chances … A good team effort.”
He said that they’re trying a new tactic where they’re already in the playoffs. If they treat each game like it’s a playoff game, that will help when the real deal happens.
“We started a playoff atmosphere,” Walters said. “So, Game 1 tonight. We have 20 games left. We’re going to go through three (playoff) series. We want to see what they’re made of so they can be ready.”
Garden and Makysh Earn Top Line Time
With forwards Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers) and John McLaughlin on the sidelines, Walters decided to shake things up. With Greentree on the top line, he added 17-year-old Ethan Garden, along with Makysh. Both have earned the spot with their overall play.
The 5-foot-10, 173-pound Makysh was the Spitfires’ second-round pick in the 2025 Canadian Hockey League (CHL) Import Draft. While originally from Astana, Kazakhstan, he played the last two seasons for the Boston Hockey Academy. Last season, he had 121 points in 57 games. Sunday’s goal, which was a slot shot that found its way through traffic, was his 11th of the season. It followed a nine-game drought. He said he’s happy to be in the lineup and play his game, even if he’s not scoring.
“You want to score, you want to help the team win with a goal or assist,” he said. “If you keep playing, you’ll get your points. I was so happy to be in the lineup and play my game. Even though I’m not getting any points, I’m still playing the right way and getting chances.”
Related: Spitfires Sign 2025 2nd Round CHL Import Pick Makysh
Walters has given him an increased role over time and said getting top-line ice was a well-deserved result of what the kid brings to the team.
“I think (Makysh and Garden) deserve (getting top line time),” he said. “They played great. I thought Makysh was our best player on the ice … He created a lot, his passing is good, he’s so fast and competitive. He deserves to go up in the lineup.”
Walters said that, while Makysh had 121 points in 57 games last season, he’s got incredible skill at both ends of the rink.
“He’s never really been coached before,” Walters said. “He had (121) points last season; he could do whatever he wanted. To his credit, he’s very responsible defensively. You see his skill set, he’s come a long way away from the puck. He’s going to keep playing.”
The other part of this new top line was the Belleville, MI native Garden. While he’s just 5-foot-8, 169 pounds, their ninth-round pick in the 2024 OHL Draft brings speed, physical play, and intelligence to the rink. On Sunday, he had a goal called back because it was ruled to have not crossed the line. Otherwise, he was his usual tenacious, persistent self, and Walters said he’s simply a warrior.
“He’s the smartest player,” he said. “He’s very, very competitive, fearless, a warrior. His skill set is coming along, and he continues to work. He’s the first guy over the boards three-against-four, three-against-five, he blocks shots, just a complete team warrior.”
Spitfires’ Depth Finds a Way
One area that Walters has repeatedly talked about is their need for consistent secondary scoring. They have the players to build three scoring lines, or even four if they’re all healthy. It’s just getting that game-in and game-out.
On Sunday, they got scoring from their top three lines – the top line had a pair of goals, the second line had a goal and four assists, and the third line had a goal and an assist. Even their defence chipped in with the second and third pairings having points. Walters said this was the performance they needed.
“It’s huge,” he said. “You watch the passes and plays (Caden) Harvey’s making, Makysh, Garden always responsible. (Defenceman Andrew) Robinson was great back there. It’s huge, and it has to continue.”
The Spitfires don’t need every line producing every night. However, the top guys can’t be everything all of the time. Getting that secondary scoring is going to be crucial as they head towards the playoffs. The club has been built on depth, being able to create and produce, no matter who’s on what line. If they can build on this game, that’s a solid start.
The win gives the Spitfires sole possession of the first seed in the conference. However, it’s by a single point over the Rangers and Firebirds, and the Rangers have a game in hand.
The Spitfires now have a few days to rest and practice before heading up north for their annual northern swing. They face the North Bay Battalion on Thursday, the Sudbury Wolves on Friday, and the Greyhounds on Sunday.
