Knights’ goal-prevention key to streak

Knight Watch: London has won seven straight; Cowan’s point streak reaches 47 games; Defense, goaltenders have stepped up during streak; Sim starts to score; It’s North Bay, Guelph this weekend …

The Knights have won seven in a row heading into Friday’s home game, Nov. 8, 2024, against North Bay. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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Make it seven straight wins for the London Knights.

They topped Sault Ste. Marie 5-1 on Wednesday night, their second win over the Greyhounds in less than a week. And this one was a lopsided affair, with the Knights outshooting their counterparts 43-13 in the contest.

As London enters a two-game weekend Friday at home, the team has 11 wins and 22 points — four back of the division-leading Kitchener Rangers.

The Knights’ defensive system, which was a signature piece of their success last season, is really starting to take form. They’ve allowed just eight goals over their last five games — and two goals or fewer over their past eight. They surrendered just 13 shots against in Wednesday’s win over the Greyhounds.

The Knights had the fewest goals against last season with 197, the only OHL team to allow fewer than 200.

Goaltending deserves some credit there as well, with both Aleksei Medvedev and Austin Elliott limiting goals against. Medvedev was the OHL Rookie of the Week, and he leads all freshman netminders with five wins. Elliot improved to 5-0 in a Knights uniform with his last win.

Easton Cowan extended his lengthy regular season point streak to 47 games with a pair of goals Wednesday. Although he has points in all 11 games he’s played this season, Wednesday’s contest marked just his third multi-point game.

After recording just two points through his first six games of the year, captain Denver Barkey now has eight points over his last five contests. Even when he’s not putting up points, the he’s been one of the more reliable forwards for the Knights, leading the team with a plus-7 rating. And he’s typically one of the first players over the boards when the Knights need to kill a penalty.

Landon Sim has also found his scoring touch. He started the season with an injury, but he’s since been able to contribute in more ways than one. In addition to providing a significant physical presence up front, he also has four goals in his last four games.

Former Knight Isaiah George made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders on Tuesday night. The defenseman played 189 regular season games with the Knights, putting up 19 goals and 75 points in his junior career.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Nov. 8, 7:00pm) vs. North Bay Battalion (7-7-2-0, 5th in Central Division)

Following three straight Central Division titles, and three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, it looks like North Bay is shifting to rebuilding mode. They parted ways with top scorer Dalyn Wakely earlier this year, and some other older names will likely be moved over the next two months. Shamar Moses, who came over in the Wakely trade with Barrie, has three goals and 13 points in 11 games since joining the Battalion. Anaheim Ducks prospect Ethan Procyszyn has 12 goals through 16 games, and Ilderton’s Owen Van Steensel has four goals and six points over his last six contests.

Sunday (Nov. 10, 2:07pm) @ Guelph Storm (4-9-1-1, 5th in Midwest)

The Storm have struggled the last few weeks. They won on Wednesday night, which brought an end to their nine-game losing streak, which started with a 5-1 loss to the Knights on Oct. 12. Guelph does have Jett Luchanko back from the Philadelphia Flyers. He had a pair of points in Wednesday’s win, but the Storm still have the worst record in the Western Conference. Washington Capitals prospect Cam Allen, who leads the team with 10 points, is the only Storm player in double digits. Former London Junior Knight Parker Snelgrove has a pair of goals this season. 

Easton Cowan, who scored twice in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over the Soo, extended his point streak to 47 games. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

66 - Aleksei Medvedev has stopped 66 of 68 shots over his last two starts, backstopping London to wins in Saginaw and Owen Sound. He’s won four of his last five starts.

16.7 - The Knights lead the OHL in penalty minutes per game with 16.7. Landon Sim is the most penalized Knight with 28 minutes this season. Cohen Bidgood and Ryder Boulton both have 22 penalty minutes.

32.7 - Of London’s 58 goals so far this season, 19 have come on the powerplay. So, 32.7 per cent of their goals this year have come with a man advantage.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

- Aymler’s Cameron Reid is a big reason the Kitchener Rangers are off to such a hot start. The draft-eligible defenseman has 19 points in 16 games this season, and he has 10 points over his last five games.

- The points are starting to come for North Bay Battalion captain Owen Van Steensel. The Ilderton native has four goals and six points over his last six games.

AROUND THE OHL

- Quinton Musty rejoined the Sudbury Wolves after sitting out the first month of the season as he awaited a potential trade. He had four points over three games last week, scoring a pair of goals.

- The OHL has suspended Saginaw Spirit captain Ethan Hay for five games, following a remark Hay made to an opposing player on Oct. 27 against Owen Sound.

- Flint signed Hayden Reid, the latest NCAA commit to join an OHL club. It’s believed that a new rule will allow players to maintain their NCAA eligibility after playing in the OHL.

- Four OHL teams have cracked the CHL Top Ten Rankings this week: Windsor (3rd), London (4th), Kitchener (7th), and Niagara (9th).