Knights control own destiny for top spot

Knight Watch: Our weekly column on the latest Knights news & notes — plus a weekend preview.
Columnist Jake Jeffrey has you covered …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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The London Knights hold all the cards heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

They have rattled off six straight victories to open up a four-point edge for first place in the Western Conference. Second-place Saginaw does have one more game to play, but if London takes care of their own business, winning both their games, they’ll secure home-ice advantage through the entire 2024 OHL playoffs.

If London holds on to their lead, it’ll be the seventh time the Knights have finished first in the conference at the conclusion of the regular season. The last time they did so was 2013.

Easton Cowan, despite playing through injury, has continued his strong play. Perhaps that’s an understatement, as the talented forward set a franchise record in the process, extending his point streak to 34 games (breaking a 30-year-old record).

Kaleb Lawrence has been streaking as well. The overage forward has six goals in his last five games, becoming London’s eighth 20-goal scorer in the process. Sam O’Reilly and Sam Dickinson both sit at 18 and could join the club with a big weekend.

Backup goaltender Owen Willmore continues to be very reliable in relief. He has won eight straight and has allowed the Knights to monitor starter Michael Simpson’s play ahead of what hopes to be a long playoff run.

Ruslan Gazizov was named the OHL’s Player of the Week with six goals and nine points in three games. He has a career high 36 goals this season, and his next will be the 70th of his OHL career. Gazizov highlights some milestones to watch for in the final weekend of the regular season. The free agent forward is chasing 80 points (he currently sits at 79).

Denver Barkey, meanwhile, is two points shy of 100. O’Reilly and Dickinson, as mentioned, both have 18 goals and are looking to join London’s eight 20-goal scorers. Speaking of Dickinson, he currently leads the league with a plus-55 rating, the highest total by a Knight since Brandon Crawley in 2017.

Four Knights have scored at least 30 goals this year. Jacob Julien can make that five if the Winnipeg Jets prospect finds the back of the net one more time.

Four former Knights have won a U SPORTS national championship with the University of New Brunswick. Sean McGurn, Cody Morgan, Camaryn Baber and Jason Willms all helped UNB cap off a perfect season with a win over UQTR in the gold medal game Sunday. UNB had a perfect season, going 38-0 including the regular season, AUS playoffs, and the 2024 U SPORTS University Cup. They are the first team to accomplish a perfect season since McMaster in 1963.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (March 22, 7:00pm) vs. Windsor Spitfires (18-40-5-3, 10th in Western Conference)

London looks to continue their success over Windsor on Friday. They are a perfect five-for-five this season and look to sweep the season series with another win at Bud Gardens. There’s no sugar coating that it’s been a rough year in the Rose City. But the future does look bright for the Spits. Captain Liam Greentree leads the team in goals and points with 33 and 85, and he should hear his name called in the early rounds of this year’s NHL draft. Cole Davis has put himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation. He has 20 goals and 40 points. After dropping a tight game to Erie on Thursday, the Spits have lost 40 games in a season for the first time since 2015.

Sunday (March 24, 4:00pm) vs. Guelph Storm (32-27-6-1, 6th in Western Conference)

The Storm have rallied for some big wins lately, and they’ll likely finish fifth or sixth as a result — thus, avoiding a first-round matchup with the Knights. This will be the final game of the regular season for both teams. Former London Junior Knight Jett Luchanko is looking to cap off a tremendous sophomore season with the Storm. He has 20 goals and 72 points, and leads the OHL with 29 powerplay assists. Captain Braeden Bowman has scored a career-high 35 goals. Washington Capitals prospect Jake Karabela has five goals in his last four games. Former Knight Brody Crane has 10 goals this season, two of which have come against his former club.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Ilderton’s Owen Van Steensel has five goals over his last three games. In his last 17 games, he’s scored 17 goals and tallied 33 points.

Brodie and Bryce McConnell-Barker both scored goals for the visiting Soo Greyhounds at Budweiser Gardens last Friday. It was Brodie’s third of the season, while his older brother, Bryce, hit the 20-goal mark for the third straight season.

Coming off OHL Player of the Week honours, Oshawa’s Dylan Roobroeck kept up his strong offensive play. He’s currently on a nine-game point streak with eight goals and 19 points during that stretch.

Guelph’s Jett Luchanko had six assists in three games last weekend, helping the draft-eligible forward reach 72 points on the season.

Charlie Robertson made 30 saves to help Niagara blank Barrie 3-0 Sunday. It was Robertson’s third career shutout, and his first as an IceDog. After making 70 saves over two games, Robertson was named the OHL Goaltender of the Week.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

29 - Ruslan Gazizov scored his fifth shorthanded goal in Windsor Sunday, helping the Knights tie the Niagara Falls Thunder for the OHL record for shorties in a season with 29.

70 - Number 70 chases 70. Gazizov leads the Knights in goals this season with 36. He has 69 regular season goals in his OHL career.

100 - The London Knights hit the 100-point plateau for the 11th time in franchise history and the first time since 2016.

AROUND THE OHL

Erie Otters head coach Stan Butler earned his 800th career CHL win, becoming the fourth coach to reach the milestone in league history. Of those 800 wins, 772 have come in the OHL.

Kitchener Rangers forward Trent Swick has been suspended for five games for a one-man fight against Guelph earlier this week. He’ll be eligible to return for Game 4 of the playoffs.

Getting hot at the right time, the Oshawa Generals have won 10 straight and lead the Eastern Conference with 85 points.