OT wins have Knights on cusp of series win

Knight Watch: London, ahead 3-0 in their series over Owen Sound, are just one win from advancing to the 2nd round of the OHL playoffs. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest on Knights’ series — and the rest of the OHL’s first-round matchups …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights have a stranglehold on their first round playoff series following a pair of overtime wins against the Owen Sound Attack.

London brought in plenty of experience throughout the season, acquiring three players from the defending OHL champion Hamilton Bulldogs. And two of those players netted the OT winners on Sunday and Tuesday, respectively. George Diaco was the hometown hero in Game 2, while Ryan Humphrey potted the winner in Owen Sound in Game 3.

Humphrey was the beneficiary of the so-called ‘Bayshore Bounce’ after Logan Mailloux’s point shot careened off the end boards back out front of the net for Humphrey to put away.

It was the first game of the series that Owen Sound outshot London, and it was the busiest Brett Brochu has had to in the playoffs so far, as he turned aside 34 off the 36 shots he faced. Meanwhile, with three goals and seven points through three games, Sean McGurn is fourth in OHL playoff scoring.

The Knights were down by one in Game 3 before Denver Barkey scored late in the first period — and then scored again in the first minute of the second to help the Knights to a 2-1 lead.

Owen Sound eventually tied it late in the second period. They thought they’d evened things up earlier, and they would have if not for a diving effort from Knights defenceman Ethan McKinnon, who prevented the puck from trickling past the goal line following a breakaway save from Brochu. Both of Owen Sound’s goals came off one-timers in the slot while on the power play.

The Knights have really limited Owen Sound’s even-strength offence. Just two of the Attack’s six goals this series have come while playing 5-on-5. However, after getting shut out in game one, the Attack are 4-for-7 with the man advantage. That’s something to keep in mind as this series goes on.

Owen Sound captain Colby Barlow received a major penalty for hitting from behind and was ejected midway through the second period of Game 3 Tuesday night. It doesn’t appear as if he’ll receive supplementary discipline. Sam Sedley missed Game 3 entirely, as he departed Game 2 after receiving a hard hit from Knights forward Max McCue. With a shortened lineup, the Attack had two forwards filling in on defence Tuesday night.

No goalie has seen more rubber this postseason than Owen Sound’s Corbin Votary, as he’s faced 130 shots over the first three games of this series.

Denver Barkey had two goals in London’s 3-2 overtime win over Owen Sound Tuesday (Apr. 4), both in regulation. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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London-Owen Sound is one of four first-round series where one team has jumped out to a 3-0 advantage. Peterborough, Sarnia and Kitchener are also within a win of advancing to the second round. The Rangers are the biggest surprise of the bunch, jumping out to a 3-0 lead over the first-place Windsor Spitfires despite finishing as the eighth seed. Knights fans, though, will remember Kitchener’s upset of London last year, so this isn’t out of character for the boys in blue.

OHL Playoffs (1st Round) - London Knights (2) vs. Owen Sound Attack (7) (London leads 3-0)
Game 1: London 7 vs. Owen Sound 0
Game 2: London 5 vs. Owen Sound 4 (OT)
Game 3: London 3 @ Owen Sound 2 (OT)
Game 4: Thurs. Apr. 6 (7:00pm @ Owen Sound Attack)
Game 5: Fri. Apr. 7 (7:00pm vs. Owen Sound Attack) (if necessary)
Game 6: Sun. Apr. 9 (7:00pm @ Owen Sound Attack) (if necessary)
Game 7: Tues. Apr. 11 (7:00pm vs. Owen Sound Attack) (if necessary)

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Ryan Roobroeck of the London Junior Knights is the U16 ALLIANCE Player of the Year. Roobroeck, who led the league with 50 goals and 78 points in just 29 regular season games, is expected to be a top pick in the upcoming OHL draft.

Michael Simpson made 91 saves to help Peterborough jump out to a 3-0 series lead over Sudbury. That included a 40-save effort in a tight Game 2 win. 

Strathroy’s Hunter Haight has two goals and two assists for Saginaw, as the Spirit lead Flint 2-1.

Noah Nelson has a goal and two assists for the Hamilton Bulldogs, helping them even up their series with Barrie at two wins apiece.

AROUND THE OHL

First round playoff series …

Kitchener leads Windsor 3-0

The Kitchener Rangers are on the verge of another major upset, just a win away from dispatching the first-place Windsor Spitfires. The last time an 8th seed knocked off No. 1 was in the 2005 playoffs when the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors upset the Mississauga IceDogs. Marco Costantini, who won an OHL championship with Hamilton last year, has been phenomenal in net during the series, making 100 saves over Kitchener’s three wins, including a shutout victory in Game 2. Rangers captain Francesco Pinelli received a game misconduct very early in Game 3, but the Spitfires couldn’t capitalize. OHL leading scorer Matthew Maggio scored his first of the series in Game 3. It was just his second point, and he’s a minus-eight through three games.

Sarnia leads Guelph 3-0

The Sarnia Sting are a win away from a trip to the second round, a spot the franchise has only reached on four occasions, most recently in 2018. The Sting have spread out the scoring, as four players have tallied five points and three players have scored three goals through the first three games of the series — all Sting wins.

Saginaw leads Flint 2-1

Flint was able to pick up a huge overtime win on home ice after Saginaw coasted to a pair of wins to open this series. Saginaw scored twice late in Game 3 to force overtime, but the Firebirds persevered over their Michigan rivals. Saginaw’s Matyas Sapovaliv leads the OHL with five playoff goals.

Ottawa leads Oshawa 2-1

After a dominating win to open their series, the Ottawa 67’s have played two tight games against the Oshawa Generals, even losing game three, 5-4, in overtime. Ottawa tied the game with six seconds left before Oshawa won it just 23 seconds into the extra frame. Logan Morrison led the playoffs in scoring with Hamilton last year, and he has two goals and five points through the first three games for Ottawa. Luca Pinelli leads the team with seven points.

North Bay leads Mississauga 2-1

It’s a 2-1 lead for the North Bay Battalion after Mississauga took Game 2 up in northern Ontario. Kyle McDonald and Matvey Petrov both have five points so far, while James Hardie has led the way for the Steelheads with five points.

Barrie and Hamilton tied 2-2

Barrie won Games 1 and 2 fairly convincingly on home ice, but it was a different story when the series shifted to Hamilton, with the Bulldogs taking the next two contests. Brandt Clarke missed Game 4 with a suspension. The Los Angeles Kings prospect has three goals and 11 points in three games.

Peterborough leads Sudbury 3-0

The Petes have the second round in sight, and they look to clinch their series against the Wolves Wednesday night. Avery Hayes has four goals in three games, while netminder Michael Simpson has made 91 saves over the three victories.