Knights’ playoff journey starts with Flint

The Knights claimed top spot in the OHL’s Western Conference last weekend. That means the No. 1 seed will have home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. First up? The No. 8 Flint Firebirds. Our series preview …

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

The London Knights won their final seven games to capture the franchise’s seventh Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the OHL’s top regular season team. It marked the first time since 2013 that the team accomplished the feat. Most important? It secured them home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs.

London’s associate general manager, Rob Simpson, knows how critical playing at home can become during playoff time — especially given the parity in the league this year.

“The Western Conference is very strong, top to bottom. I think if you look across the board there are no easy matchups this year,” Simpson told Gameday London. “Some teams may have had better regular seasons than others, but everyone provides a unique challenge when you match up against them in a seven-game series.”

That begins this weekend with the Flint Firebirds. It’s the first time in franchise history the Knights have faced Flint in the postseason. London will host the first two games of the series Friday and Sunday before the teams shift to Michigan for Game 3 and 4 next Tuesday and Thursday.

“They play a strong systematic game. They play hard and finish their checks. They’re going to be a difficult matchup,” Simpson said of the Firebirds. “It’s something we prepared for this week so we can be ready to go Friday and play the style of hockey where we will have success.”

Flint won the first meeting of the year between these two teams, back on Nov. 17, but London took over from there, winning each of the final three. They outscored the Firebirds 23-15 overall in the season series. Ruslan Gazizov had four goals and 10 points against Flint this season, while Jacob Julien had three goals and eight points.

The Knights won three of four meetings against the Flint Firebirds during the 2023-24 regular season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

Easton Cowan kept his streak intact last weekend, ending the regular season with points in 36 straight games. His 96 points overall tied for sixth in OHL scoring.

It was a season highlighted by streaks for the Knights. London went on an impressive 23-game stretch without a regulation loss, only losing a pair of games in a shootout during that run. Before the streak, the Knights had a record of 17-11-0-1. Afterwards? A dominant 38-11-0-3.

As London enters the playoffs, the team’s depth may be one of its biggest strengths. Four players scored 30 or more goals during the regular season, while nine players scored at least 20. Denver Barkey paced the offence with 102 points, while Ruslan Gazizov scored a team-high 36 goals. After scoring just three through the first 20 games of the season, Gazizov really caught fire in January and kept that pace going for the rest of the campaign. He recorded three hat tricks this season, including a four-goal game against Sault Ste. Marie two weeks ago.

Who will lead in the locker room during this playoff run? It could be a number of different players. Despite having several candidates, the Knights decided not to name a captain this season. Simpson says that was by design.

“We have an older group. I don’t think there is one guy who is pushing the boat. So, because of how tight and close our locker room is, on any given night any of our guys can step up and have a voice or step up with their play. It was important for us to have a leadership group by committee this year.”

Denver Barkey led all Knights players with 102 points during the regular season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

On the year, Knights defencemen combined for 64 goals — led by 24 from Oliver Bonk and 18 from Sam Dickinson. It was the second most markers by a defensive corps in the league behind only Saginaw.

Of London’s 322 goals this season, 208 came at even strength, while 114 came on special teams — whether shorthanded or on the powerplay. Simpson credits this year’s elite special teams numbers directly on the hard work put in between the players and the coaching staff.

“[Assistant coach] Rick Steadman with the penalty kill, and [assistant] Dylan Hunter with the powerplay … they’ve done such a great job with those units,” Simpson said. “When you have a penalty kill and powerplay that can change game by game, it makes it really hard to match up against.” Steadman, it should be noted, was a very good penalty killer during his playing days, while Hunter scored 51 career powerplay goals during his time with the Knights.

London’s ability to find the back of the net was impressive this season, as they were one of three teams to score more than 300 goals. Despite those eye-catching offensive numbers, however, it was their defensive play that separated them from the pack. The team allowed an OHL-best 197 goals against.

That helped goalies Michael Simpson and Owen Willmore earn the Dave Pinkney Trophy for allowing the fewest goals. It marked the fourth time a Knights goaltender tandem has won the award (most recently in 2015-16 when Brendan Burke and Tyler Parsons allowed a combined 182 goals against).

Bringing in Simpson just before the start of the season helped give London the top one-two goaltender punch in the league.

“He’s the reigning MVP of the playoffs and led his team to the Memorial Cup last season, so we knew the type of calibre player he was when we brought him in,” Simpson said. “And Willmore had a great year. He’s provided some solid goaltending when we’ve needed him to.”

Without Willmore’s 16 wins this season, the Knights don’t finish first overall.

Michael Simpson, who won an OHL championship with Peterborough last year, leads a talented goaltending tandem with Owen Willmore that was the best in the league during the regular season. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

* * *

OHL Playoffs: First Round — London Knights (1) vs. Flint Firebirds (8)

Game 1: Fri. March 29 (7:00pm @ London)
Game 2: Sun. March 31 (2:00pm @ London)
Game 3: Tues. Apr. 2 (7:00pm @ Flint)
Game 4: Thurs. Apr. 4 (7:00pm @ Flint)
Game 5: Fri. Apr. 5 (7:00pm @ London) (If necessary)*
Game 6: Sun. Apr. 7 (4:00pm @ Flint) (If necessary)*
Game 7: Tues. Apr. 9 (7:00pm @ London) (If necessary)*

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Owen Van Steensel had a breakout season in North Bay, setting career highs with 41 goals and 86 points.

Jett Luchanko had a solid sophomore season with the Guelph Storm. The draft eligible forward led the team with 74 points, scoring 20 goals and finishing among the OHL’s elite with 30 powerplay assists.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

32.6 - The Knights not only had the best powerplay in the OHL, but at 32.6% they had the most efficient powerplay in the OHL’s Internet era. They scored 85 goals with the man advantage, 13 more than the next highest team.

29 - Meanwhile, the Knights tied the OHL record with 29 shorthanded goals this season. Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan both had seven apiece, while Ruslan Gazizov had five.

4 - Michael Simpson moved into a tie for the league lead by posting his fourth shutout of the season on the final day of the regular season (3-0 win over Guelph). That gives the former London Jr. Knight 10 for his OHL career.

AROUND THE OHL

Eastern Conference

Oshawa (1) vs Barrie (8) - The Generals won their final 12 games to take top spot in the Eastern Conference. Look for them to continue that hot streak into the playoffs against a rebuilding Colts squad.

North Bay (2) vs Kingston (7) - It was a third straight Central Division title for the Battalion, but they’ve lost in the conference finals each of the last two years (losing to the eventual OHL champs both times). The Frontenacs are tougher than most seventh seeds out there, but North Bay should be able to get the job done.

Brantford (3) vs Ottawa (6) - The Bulldogs have done a great job at rebuilding while also contending. Going on a bit of a playoff run would be a tremendous treat for the welcoming fans in Brantford. The 67’s certainly won’t be a cakewalk. They don’t give up many goals, and they have some high-end talent up front who can score. I think Brantford takes this one, but it could go the distance.

Mississauga (4) vs Sudbury (5) - This series will be the classic offense vs defense. Sudbury has the elite offensive talent, having scored an OHL-best 328 goals. But they allow too many against for my liking. The Steelheads have great goaltending and don’t give up a ton of looks. I give the edge to an older Sudbury team, but the future is bright with the Steelheads.

Western Conference

London (1) vs Flint (8) - The Knights are the heavy favourites in this one. And although Flint has played them tough at times this season, I don’t think it will be enough for a major upset. London is just too deep and too experienced. I give them the heavy edge in this one.

Saginaw (2) vs Owen Sound (7) - The Bayshore is a tough place to play for visiting teams — especially come playoff time. Attack captain Colby Barlow has the hot hand heading into the playoffs, but I don’t think it will be enough to carry his team past the juggernaut Spirit, who are looking to earn their way into the Memorial Cup as champs, not just as hosts.

Soo (3) vs Guelph (6) - Guelph has been inconsistent this season. At times, they’ve looked like they can compete with the best. At other times … not so much. The Greyhounds just have too many weapons and play a physical brand of hockey built for the postseason not to lose this one.

Kitchener (4) vs Erie (5) - The Rangers are the favourites in this one, although the Otters are a bit of a dark horse for me. Kitchener has some top-end offensive talent and fairly decent goaltending. But I think they may be a little top heavy, which can spell trouble in the playoffs. Erie has surprised me on more than one occasion this season, and I think they may still have another surprise up their sleeves. This one likely goes the distance, and I give a slight edge to the underdog Otters.