Knights’ comeback extends streak
BRAMPTON, Ont. – Tyler Ferry scored what proved to be the deciding goal on a dash out of the penalty box as the London Knights edged the Brampton Battalion 4-3 Thursday night, extending the visitors’ season-best Ontario Hockey League winning streak to 16 games.
Matt Rupert, Josh Anderson and Seth Griffith also scored for the Knights, who rallied from a 2-0 deficit. Goaltender Kevin Bailie made 21 saves as London moved its won-lost-extended record to a league-best 24-5-2 for 50 points atop the Midwest Division.
Barclay Goodrow, Brendan Childerley and Marcus McIvor scored for the Battalion before a season-high crowd of 2,775, while Dylan Blujus and Mike Amadio each had two assists. Goaltender Matej Machovsky made 24 saves for the Troops, 14-12-5 for 33 points, fourth in the Central Division.
“We played pretty hard for the most part,” said Battalion coach Stan Butler. “We made some crucial mistakes at crucial times in the game, and it just came back to hurt us.
“That’s why they’re such a good team. They take advantage of their opportunities, and that’s exactly what happened on the winning goal.”
Ferry, who emerged from the penalty box to gather up an attempted pass by Mathew Santos in the left-wing corner to Brenden Miller at the right point, broke away to beat Machovsky low to the glove side at 11:19 of the third period for a 4-2 lead.
“Their guy comes out of the penalty box and our guy gives him a tape-to-tape pass,” said Butler. “He goes in on a breakaway and scores.”
Griffith broke a 2-2 tie with his team-leading 20th goal of the season at 4:31, knocking home his own rebound from the lip of the crease after Nikita Zadorov staged a rink-length rush up the left side and cut to the middle for a close-range backhanded attempt.
“On their third goal, their guy just goes around one of our best players,” said Butler. “It happens. It’s part of the game, but you have to give their player credit for making a play like that. Our guy was standing right beside Griffith in the crease and doesn’t get his stick.”
Defenceman McIvor scored at 16:08 when his right-point shot deflected high off a defender and over Bailie into the net. For no apparent reason, the play went to an extended review, with the call on the ice upheld.
“Their fourth goal didn’t help our momentum but, at the same time, there was enough time left to stay the course and keep with it,” said Butler. “We got a lucky goal that probably evened out their fourth goal, and we had a great chance at the end of the game to tie it.”
Bailie made a stop in the final minute at his right post, keeping the puck out despite a swarm of attackers swatting at it.
“It was nice to see that we never quit,” said Brandon Robinson. “In the last four minutes, when we were down 4-2, you can easily say it’s over and shut it down, but we didn’t. We scored a goal and took them to the final buzzer.”
Childerley gave the Battalion a 2-0 lead at 1:37 of the second period, gathering the rebound of a Patrik Machac shot and depositing it into the open right side. It was Childerley’s fourth goal.
Rupert converted a wrist shot over Machovsky’s blocker shoulder at 11:40 after Blujus failed to control the puck behind the net. Bo Horvat and Ryan Rupert had the assists.
Anderson tied it at 15:32 after Chris Tierney drove deep on the left wing and fed a pass to the slot.
Machovsky denied Alex Broadhurst on a three-on-one rush in the ninth minute. Griffith laid a saucer pass to Broadhurst at the right hash marks, but Machovsky kicked away the puck with his right pad.
Goodrow struck for his team-leading 21st goal at 14:53 of the first period, 23 seconds into a two-man advantage. Amadio, in the left-wing corner, put the puck to Goodrow in front of the net, and he kicked it to his stick blade.
The Battalion had no scratches. London scratched Miles Liberati, Paxton Leroux and Jacob Jammes.
The Battalion visits the Kingston Frontenacs at 7 p.m. Friday. The game can be seen live in Brampton on Rogers Cable 10 and in Caledon and Orangeville on Rogers Cable 63.
BATTALION NOTEBOOK: The attendance eclipsed the 2,384 for the Battalion’s season opener, a 2-1 loss via shootout Sept. 21 to the Niagara IceDogs … London’s last loss was a 6-3 setback at the hands of the host Windsor Spitfires on Nov. 1 … The Troops went 1-for-4 on the power play. The Knights were 0-for-2 … The Battalion is 8-5-2 at home, while London is 13-2-0 on the road … The Troops are 5-2-5 in one-goal decisions and 2-2-2 when tied after two periods … “We gave them too much respect early in the game,” said Robinson. “Ten minutes in they were outshooting us 11-1. Once we realized we could play with them and started playing our game, we started to make things happen.” … Goodrow scored his 24th power-play goal, moving into sole possession of eighth place on the club’s all-time list, one ahead of Luch Aquino. In 219 games, Goodrow has 77 goals and 60 assists for 137 points, 17th in Battalion history and one point more than current assistant coach Ryan Oulahen … Opening Battalion line combinations included Jamie Lewis centring left winger Nick Paul and right winger Goodrow, Machac pivoting left winger Robinson and right winger Childerley and Nicholas Foglia centring left winger Blake Clarke and right winger Matt MacLeod. Amadio centred left winger Connor Jarvis and right winger Santos … Amadio was recognized as the Battalion’s scholastic player of the month for November. Also honoured were Brampton minor hockey players Yanni Danakas, Gabriel Grobanopoulos, Torben Hansen, Reed Manderville and Jack Perkins, who were nominated by coaches and parent representatives … The Battalion and Knights complete the two-game season series Feb. 1 at London … The referees were Seth Ferguson and Mike Pryde.
