Knight Watch: Tough weekend test

The Knights will look to prove their mettle with three games in three days — including a pair against their top Midwest foe, the Guelph Storm. Columnist Jake Jeffrey breaks it all down.

Kirill Steklov has four points in his first three games for the Knights this season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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It’s been a bit of a slow start to 2022 for the London Knights, by which I mean they haven't really had the opportunity to play much.

Fingers crossed, that should change this weekend. 

The Knights will look to get back into the win column after dropping their fourth straight to Sarnia on Sunday (this time, a 4-2 decision) in a game that saw London fire 51 shots on Benjamin Gaudreau. Looking ahead to this weekend, London will face another team they’ve struggled against this year: the Guelph Storm.

The Storm and Knights enter the weekend tied atop the Midwest Division, with 39 points apiece. Both teams will play Friday night before squaring off for a home-and-home series against each other Saturday and Sunday. With those two games this weekend, and four still to come, it's very likely that the season series between the two could decide who wins the division — and maybe even the Western Conference.

That’s not ideal for London, who is still searching for its first victory over the Storm this season (they’ve gone winless in four tries thus far).

Before the division’s top two teams do battle, the Knights will host the last-place Erie Otters on Friday, a team that has certainly not been playing like a last-place team over the last few weeks.

Three games in three days will be a nice change of pace for a team that has played just four in the last 40.

And they’d better get used to being busy. Seven of London’s last 11 scheduled games have been postponed and will need to be rescheduled by season’s end. It should make for busy months ahead.

This weekend does have a slight change, as Friday’s game has been moved to a 7:00pm start. But, hey, at least they're playing …

A recent announcement by the provincial government will leave OHL arenas empty until Feb. 1, when a small number (500) of fans will then be permitted. On Feb. 21, if all goes well, that number will go up to 50% capacity - about 4,500 at Budweiser Gardens. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Jan. 21, 7:00pm) vs. Erie Otters (11-17-1-1)

The Otters have won five of their last six games to play themselves back into the playoff picture — although they do remain on the outside looking in. Defenseman Christian Kyrou has two goals and nine assists in his last eight games. Connor Lockhart comes into Friday’s game riding a five-game point streak, with seven goals and 10 points over that stretch.

Saturday (Jan. 22, 7:00pm) @ Guelph Storm (18-8-2-1) (Guelph hosts Soo Greyhounds Friday)
Sunday (Jan. 23, 2:00pm) vs. Guelph Storm

A big test this weekend with a home-and-home against Guelph, a team that has won all four previous meetings this season. The most recent matchup, London’s final game before the holiday break, helped propel the Storm into the top spot in the conference, leapfrogging London in the process. As the two teams compete for tops in the Midwest, they’ll play each other four more times after this weekend.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Back-to-back two-goal games from Blenheim’s Brady Stonehouse gives the Ottawa 67’s forward 10 on the season.

Londoner George Diaco scored a highlight reel lacrosse-style goal last weekend as he continues his breakout season with the Hamilton Bulldogs.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

In four games against Guelph this season, London has scored just six goals, and half of those have come off the stick of Luke Evangelista. Speaking of the captain, his 23 goals this season are four back of the OHL lead heading into the weekend.

The Knights have had success closing out games. They’re 12-0 when leading after two periods, and 5-0 when heading into the final period tied.

FOLLOWING FORMER KNIGHTS

Nazem Kadri is heading to the All-Star game after all. The former Knight is enjoying a breakout season for the Colorado Avalanche and was voted in by the fans as the Central Division's ‘Last Man In.’

JJ Piccinich is among the leading scorers in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League, with 14 goals and 33 points in 24 games with the Belfast Giants. He scored 56 goals and 138 points over two seasons with the Knights (2015-17).

As I mentioned last week, former Knights standout Michael Houser signed an entry level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. Well, on Tuesday night he made 43 saves to help Buffalo beat the Ottawa Senators 3-1.

In some sad news, long-time Knights time-keeper and public address announcer Joe Pelesh has passed away. Many will remember Joe’s voice at the London Ice House.