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Knight Watch: Brown, Brzustewicz, Nicholl top producers since trade deadline; London’s 3-game win streak snapped by Soo; Home stretch ahead, starting this weekend vs. Sarnia and Peterborough.
The London Knights had a modest three-game winning streak snapped with a midweek loss against Sault Ste. Marie, 5-2 on the road. That contest served as a potential playoff preview for the current fourth and fifth seeds in the Western Conference, with the Greyhounds’ win putting them three points up on London.
Greyhounds goalie Carter George made 28 saves to improve to a perfect 4-0 since joining the Soo at the OHL trade deadline. He also added a goalie goal for good measure, the second of his OHL career (he scored one with Owen Sound last season). He becomes the first goalie in league history to score twice.
Ryan Brown scored both of London’s goals in Wednesday’s loss, which followed a three-point effort for the forward in Owen Sound on the weekend. Brown, who joined the Knights via trade in late December, now has six goals in his last six games and leads the Knights with 31 points on the year.
Henry Brzustewicz had an assist Wednesday to extend his point streak to four games. He has a goal and six points over that stretch. Will Nicholl also has points in four straight games. He joins Brzustewicz and Brown as London’s biggest offensive producers since the trade deadline.
The Knights had a trio of prospects currently playing in the GOHL make the trip to Wednesday’s game, including Cooper McAslan and Cody Wood, who returned to London’s lineup for the first time since September. Both are playing for the London Nationals. Eloan Le Gallic, meanwhile, also played his second game of the season for the Knights (the first in mid-December). He’s been with the St. Thomas Stars.
London has won three of five contests since trading away some of the top players at the deadline and signaling a rebuild. The two losses came against Brantford and the Soo, two teams who made additions at the deadline to gear up for their respective playoff runs.
Kitchener beat Windsor in overtime on Wednesday night. With London’s loss, the Rangers moved seven points ahead for the Midwest division lead. With London losing ground on both Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie, it’s looking more likely that they will not have home ice advantage in the playoffs — for the first time since 2018.
The Knights still have 24 games left, basically a third of the season, but with the other teams adding at the trade deadline, it will be tough for the rebuilding London squad to pull even and grab a No. 4 seed or higher.
Following three straight road games, the Knights will play five of their next six at Canada Life Place, starting this weekend when they host Sarnia Friday and Peterborough on Sunday afternoon.
UPCOMING GAMEDAYS
Friday (Jan. 23, 7:00pm) vs. Sarnia Sting (13-25-4-1, 9th in Western Conference)
London has won four of five against the Sting this season, and Sebastian Gatto has won all four of those games. He’s allowed just two goals over his last three starts against the Knights’ 402 foes, and he could very well get the start again Friday night after Aleksei Medvedev was between the pipes in the Soo Wednesday. Sarnia has just three wins in their last dozen games (but one was over London). The Sting gave up just a single goal in each of those three wins, but they allowed three or more in the nine losses. Rookie Easton Walos leads the team in points with 33. He had goals in six straight games before the Knights held him scoreless last Friday.
Sunday (Jan. 25, 2:00pm) vs. Peterborough Petes (24-16-1-2, 4th in Eastern Conference)
The Knights won the only meeting this season between these two teams back in October, but these squads have been heading in opposite directions since then, with London parting ways with some of their older players to initiate a rebuild of their roster, and Peterborough adding one of the league’s top point getters in Kieron Walton. His 58 points is second among all OHLers. Walton has four goals and six points in four games since joining the Petes from Sudbury at the trade deadline. Easton Rye has quietly been putting together a stellar season with 23 wins, second most among OHL netminders. He’s also been one of the busiest, as he’s one of three goalies who have made more than 1,000 saves this season. Keep an eye out for locals Brennan Faulkner and Aiden Young.
KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS
6 – With another two goals Wednesday night, Ryan Brown has six in his last six games.
6 – London’s streak of six straight Midwest Division titles is in jeopardy, as they are now seven points back of division-leading Kitchener. The Rangers have won five straight since the trade deadline. Both former Knights Sam O’Reilly and Jared Woolley have had an impact through their first handful of games with their new team.
4 – Sebastian Gatto is a perfect 4-0 against the Sarnia Sting this season. He’s allowed only two goals over his last three victories.
5 – London currently sits fifth in the Western Conference. If that holds, it would be the first time the Knights haven’t had home ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs since 2018.
A LOOK AT THE LOCALS
– Carson Harmer has 11 points during his seven-game point streak with the Saginaw Spirit.
– Ryan Roobroeck had his 13-game point streak snapped, but he scored twice against Brantford on Sunday to kickstart a new one. His nine powerplay goals this season are tied for third in the OHL.
– Ethan Dean recorded an assist in back-to-back games for the Sudbury Wolves.
