An overtime goal and plenty of teddy bears were enough to put the Windsor Spitfires in a holiday mood.
Daniel D'Amico scored the winner at 3:20 in overtime for a 4-3 win by the Spitfires on Teddy Bear Toss day at the WFCU Centre. The popular annual holiday tradition collected toys for Sparky's Toy Drive.
Bode Wilde started the scoring for the Spirit at 9:39 in the opening period, in which Saginaw outshot the Spitfires 15-10.
The Spirit added another goal in the second period when Jake Goldowski scored on the power play. Windsor responded with two goals to tie the game before the second permission. Will Cuylle's lamplighter at 7:52 was the cue for thousands of stuffed animals to be tossed on the ice. Following a six-minute delay while arena staff, volunteers and players helped remove the animals, Connor Corcoran scored the equalizer goal.
The two teams exchanged goals in the latter half of the third period. Danny Katic put Saginaw back in the lead, then Tyler Angle's goal forced the overtime period for the Spitfires.
Kari Piiroinen had 33 saves in goal for the Spits. Tristan Lennox took the defeat for Saginaw and stopped 25 shots.
The Spitfires are now on their Christmas break, and they return to action when they travel to London and play the Knights on Friday, December 28.