The Windsor Spitfires understand they have a big hill to climb, starting Thursday night.
Down three games to none to the London Knights in their first-round OHL playoff series, the Spitfires will try to avert a sweep in Game 4 on Thursday night. Windsor held a 3-2 lead over the Knights after two periods of play in Tuesday night's Game 3, but London exploded for four goals in the third to put a stranglehold on the series.
Forward Will Cuylle, who leads the team with two goals and an assist through three playoff contests, blamed sloppy play and penalties on their poor third-period performance in Game 3. He told reporters Wednesday that he and his teammates will enter Game 4 with a different approach.
"I think we just have to play like it's our last game because it is," said Cuylle. "Obviously the season could be over. None of us wants that, we all want to keep playing, so we're going to come out hard."
That is a sentiment echoed by head coach Trevor Letowski, who called his young team close, resilient, and able to rise to the challenge. He said he's been pleased with everything that has worked against a talented Knights squad.
"It's exciting to watch our team play as hard as they did, like driving offence and attacking in the neutral zone like they were able to do against an elite D-corps and an elite defensive team," said Letowski.
Windsor will try to earn at least another game on their schedule when the puck drops at 7:05 p.m. at the WFCU Centre. A potential Game 5 is Friday night at London's Budweiser Gardens.