A SPIRITED MATCHUP
The London Knights will travel across the 49th Parallel as they will travel to the Dow Event Center to take on the Saginaw Spirit on Saturday night. Following their win over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday night, the Knights will look to continue their perfect March record as they take on the eighth place Spirit. This will be the final regular season matchup between the squads as the two are currently battling for two distinct privileges.
Saginaw, who currently holds down the last playoff spot in the Western Conference is eight of points ahead of the Flint Firebirds to have the privilege of extending their year by entering the playoffs. The Knights, who have long confirmed their berth in the second season, are still battling back and forth with Erie to have the privilege of holding down home ice throughout the entire 2016 postseason.
London showcased that they can win close, playoff style hockey games as they beat the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds last night by a 2-1 score. Christian Dvorak put up his 50th goal of the season becoming the 21st player in London history to reach the feat. Leading the entire hockey league in goal scoring, Dvorak sits two ahead of Andrew Mangiapane of Barrie and Alex DeBrincat of Erie.
While the Knights were busy against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Friday night, Saginaw travelled to Sarnia to take on the Sting. Led by London native Travis Konecny, Sarnia topped Saginaw by a score of 4-3.
In the previous meetings between these two clubs, London has taken home all three meetings by a combined score of 18-2. A 4-1 Knights victory on October 16 saw Aaron Berisha put up two markers in front of a home crowd at Budweiser Gardens. The Knights would follow this result but putting up seven on the Spirit in a 7-0 win on Halloween where Max Jones scored a hat trick in front of the Saginaw faithful. Two and a half months later, the Knights would match their offensive output again as they put up another seven on the Spirit. Ten Knights would find themselves on the scoresheet after this 7-1 victory on January 15th in front of a sold out Budweiser Gardens.
The Knights are still tied atop the standings with the Otters heading into next weekend’s crucial home-and-home matchup with Erie. This spirited Saginaw squad are one of the challenges that the Knights will have to face as they search for clarity and separation between themselves and Erie.
The Knights will return home on Friday, March 18th when they take on the Erie Otters. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm. Make sure to visit http://londonknights.com/page/tickets-i, the Aluminum Associates London Knights Armoury, OMAC Mortgages London Knights Box Office, or call 519-681-0800 ext. 1 for more information.
