By John Payetta
WINDSOR – SPORTS – Billy Jenkins and Sam Schutt each scored twice as the Lakehead Thunderwolves toppled the Windsor Lancers 4-1 with a solid performance from start to finish at the South Windsor Arena on Friday night.
Jenkins put Lakehead up 1-0 on the first shift of the game, burying the puck behind Windsor goalkeeper Jonathan Reinhart at the 31-second mark, with Daniel Del Paggio assisting.
Sam Schutt added to the Wolves’ lead at 4:20 of the second with a seeing-eye shot that beat Reinhart on the glove side, with the helpers going to Patrick Murphy and Jake Ringuette.
Jenkins got his second goal of the night by going five-hole from the high slot at 10:06, with Murphy and Ringuette assisting once again.
Blake Blondeel got Windsor on the board by taking advantage of a bouncing puck to put one past Wolves’ goalie Devin Green at 14:29 and narrow Lakehead’s lead to 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Green’s rebound control was rock solid during the first two periods, and he kept that going in the third.
Still down a pair with just under three minutes to go, Windsor pulled Reinhart for an extra attacker. Schutt killed any hopes of a Lancers’ comeback had when he raced down the ice and slapped the puck into the empty cage at 17:51, with the helpers going to Del Paggio and Dillon Donnelly.
In a game in which no penalties were called until the third period, Lakehead went 0-for-2 on the power play and Windsor was 0-for-1.
Total shots on goal for the night were 30-25 for Windsor.
The win snaps the Wolves’ seven-game losing skid and gives them some breathing room in their bid to secure a spot in the OUA playoffs.
Lakehead will finish up its road trip tomorrow night in London against the Western Mustangs.
