Knights look to spread out scoring

Knight Watch: It’s another three-games-in-three-nights weekend for Knights, beginning Thursday — Windsor, Owen Sound, Guelph. Is London relying too much on Easton Cowan? Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest Knights news and notes …

Knights goalie Michael Simpson enters action Thursday (Nov. 9) second in the OHL with a 2.45 goals-against average. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

After a pair of come-from-behind wins last Friday and Saturday, the London Knights had their comeback bid fall short against the Kitchener Rangers Sunday.

On Friday, they battled back to beat Brantford 3-2 in overtime, on Saturday it was a goal in the final minute that flipped the script on Owen Sound for another 3-2 win, but London was unable to find the same third period magic Sunday, as they fell to the Midwest Division leaders.

Friday night, Max McCue scored the overtime winner on London’s 55th shot of the game against Brantford goalie Matteo Drobac. McCue finished off a lovely pass from Easton Cowan to give the Knights their second straight overtime win — and third on the season.

London had another strong third period in Owen Sound the following night. Cowan tied the game with less than eight minutes to go, and then helped set up Sam O’Reilly’s game winner with just 18 seconds left. The Knights trailed heading into the third period once again on Sunday, but this time it was not to be, as Kitchener held on for a 4-2 victory at Bud Gardens.

Scoring depth has been a challenge for London at times this season, as a majority of the team’s offence has gone through Easton Cowan. The Knights have scored 11 goals over their last four games, and Cowan has been part of all but two of them.

Defense and goaltending have been a strong point in the early going, as London has allowed the fifth fewest goals against (41) entering action Thursday. Although, one of their opponents this weekend, the Guelph Storm, has allowed the fewest (36).

On paper, that Saturday game against Guelph has the potential to be a fantastic goaltending duel between two of the league’s finest. Guelph’s Brayden Gillespie has the lowest goals-against average among OHL starters (2.26), while London’s Michael Simpson (2.45 GAA) is just behind him.

The Knights will play three of their next five games at home before a road-dominant second half of November that will see them play four straight away from Bud Gardens. 

Looking at the weekly rankings, the Knights sit in 8th in the CHL’s Top Ten. They’re one of just two OHL teams to crack the list, with the Kitchener Rangers (10th) being the other. In the OHL’s Power Rankings, the Knights slipped down to the 7th spot this week. Ottawa, Sudbury, Mississauga, Kitchener, North Bay and the Soo are all ahead of them.

Sawyer Boulton will miss two more games as he serves a three-game suspension. He’ll be eligible to return Saturday night against Guelph. Boulton and Owen Sound’s Jackson Stewart were each suspended for a trio of contests for what was deemed a ‘staged fight’ in London’s 3-2 win over the Attack Saturday.

It does not appear as though Knights forward Jacob Julien will receive any additional discipline. The Winnipeg Jets prospect was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a cross check during the second period of Sunday’s loss to Kitchener.

The Knights and Rogers TV are hosting the Warm & Woolly Drive Friday night in support of the Boys & Girls Club of London, so if you’re heading to Friday’s game, make sure you bring along some new toques, mitts, gloves, or socks!

Max McCue celebrates his overtime winner in London’s 3-2 victory over the Brantford Bulldogs Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Thursday (Nov. 9, 7:05pm) @ Windsor Spitfires (4-10-1-0, fifth in West Division)

The Spitfires have struggled so far this season, but they do have three wins in their last seven games — and that includes victories over Kitchener, Sarnia, and Saginaw, all teams London has lost to. The Spits also have had more success on home ice, with three of their four wins coming at the WFCU Centre. Draft-eligible forward Liam Greentree has followed up his 25-goal rookie season nicely, as he leads Windsor with eight goals and 17 points. Anaheim Ducks prospect Rodwin Dionicio is above a point per game as a defenseman and is the only NHL drafted player on the Spits’ roster.

Friday (Nov. 10, 7:00pm) vs. Owen Sound Attack (7-8-1-0, fifth in Midwest Division)

The Attack are looking for some revenge after the Knights came away with a 3-2 come-from-behind win at the Bayshore last weekend. The Attack have three players with nine or more goals this year, including Deni Goure, Cedrick Guindon and Colby Barlow. Defenceman Sam Sedley has 18 points in 15 games. Minnesota Wild prospect Servac Petrovsky is starting to find his grove. He had nine points during a recent six-game point streak — and he scored against the Knights last weekend.

Saturday (Nov. 11, 7:00pm) vs. Guelph Storm (9-6-0-0, third in Midwest Division)

One of the best defensive teams in the OHL, the Storm have the reigning OHL goaltender of the month, Brayden Gillespie. Stat-wise, he and the Knights’ Michael Simpson are near the top of most goaltending categories, so this could be a dandy battle between two of the best in the OHL Saturday night. A pair of London Junior Knights graduates are on the Storm roster (Jett Luchanko and Parker Snelgrove). Luchanko has been red hot lately, tallying three goals and 11 points during a six-game point streak. He’s tied for the team lead with 17 points this season. St. Louis Blues prospect Michael Buchinger has 17 points, fourth most among OHL blueliners.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Parkhill’s Dylan Richter recorded his first OHL point, an assist in North Bay’s loss to Kitchener last Friday.

Will Bishop scored his first OHL goal this week. The Saginaw Spirit defenseman spent last season with the Sudbury Wolves. 

At the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, Ryan Roobroeck scored his first two goals of the tournament this week and Aylmer’s Cameron Reid (Kitchener Rangers) scored the overtime winner to help Canada White beat Sweden 4-3.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

13 - Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey have combined for 13 points over their last four games.

5 - Of London’s eight power play goals this season, San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halltunen has scored five of them. He has 10 goals this season.

5 - The London Knights have the third best penalty kill in the OHL with an 87.1% efficiency. They’re tied for the most shorthanded goals with five. 

9 - Over their last four games, the Knights have scored 11 goals. Easton Cowan has contributed on all but two of them.

KNIGHTS PROSPECT PIPELINE

Will Moore is lighting up the net at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge for the United States. He has five goals and six assists in five games for the Americans. The Knights drafted Moore 18th overall in the 2023 OHL Priority Selection, but he has spent the season with the US National Team Development Program.

This week, London signed goaltender Finn Wilson, who was a 15th round draft pick in 2022. He had a great 16-year-old season with the PJHL’s Port Dover Sailors last year, and he’s made a smooth transition to the OJHL with the Georgetown Raiders.

AROUND THE OHL

The Oshawa Generals acquired overage forward Connor Lockhart from Peterborough for a pair of draft picks. He scored a goal and added three assists in his Generals debut over the weekend.

The Kitchener Rangers received another boost from an NHL club, as Tampa Bay has sent back overage defenseman Roman Schmidt. This is one week after the Montreal Canadiens reassigned Filip Mesar.