KNIGHTS VISIT STORM FOR SECOND HALF OF HOME-AND-HOME
By Yannis Economopoulos
X @YannisEcono
Knights Visit Storm for Second Half of Home-and-Home
LONDON, Ont. – After sweeping their three-in-three over the weekend, the London Knights are taking a three-game win streak to Guelph on Wednesday night to conclude a home-and-home series with the Storm.
Who’s Hot?
London Knights (12-5-0-1)
In his previous four matchups, Kasper Halttunen has lit the lamp five times while recording seven points. The San Jose Sharks prospect is taking a four-game point and goal streak with him on the road.
Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey extended their point streaks to seven games in Saturday’s win. Barkey has accumulated 11 points in the stretch – including two shorthanded markers, while Cowan has totaled 15 points.
After his first shutout wearing the green and gold, Michael Simpson has eight wins, a .910 save percentage, and a 2.58 goals-against average. Across the entire league, the over-age netminder is within the top seven in all those stats.
Know the Foe
Guelph Storm (10-7-0-0)
Forward Jett Luchanko co-leads the Storm in points this season (17) and has tallied 11 in his previous eight outings. The London, Ont. native was the 12th overall pick to Guelph in the 2022 OHL Draft.
Max Namestnikov, younger brother of Winnipeg Jets forward and former Knight Vladislav, leads the Storm in goals (9) and power play markers (5) this season. The 5-foot-8 winger has tallied nine points in his last eight contests.
Michael Buchinger has six multi-point games as a blueliner to start the campaign. The St. Louis Blues prospect is the other co-leader in points (17) but leads in assists (13), power-play points (10), and shots on goal (66).
Standings
London is second in the Midwest Division with 25 points, and the Storm are just behind, sitting in third with 20.
Head-to-Head
Last season, these divisional rivals split the six-game series with three wins each, but London has taken the first two contests this year.
The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. EST.
Up Next…
The Knights will clash with the Flint Firebirds on Friday night at Budweiser Gardens.
