KNIGHTS AIM FOR 2-0 SERIES LEAD VS. RANGERS
Knights Aiming to Take a 2-0 Series Lead vs Rangers
By Yannis Economopoulos
LONDON, ON – The London Knights battled their way to a 5-3 win against the Kitchener Rangers in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Thursday and will look to take a 2-0 series lead this evening.
Scouting the Knights (5-0-0)
Having ended the regular season on a seven-game win streak and starting the playoffs with a perfect 5-0-0 record, the green and gold are on a 12-game heater.
For the second time this postseason, Kaleb Lawrence scored the first goal of the series for the Knights – and by adding an assist, the 6-foot-6 forward earned first-star honours in Game 1. Lawrence has a team-leading four markers in five playoff appearances this year.
Jacob Julien, who’s fresh off a 78-point campaign, dished two helpers on Thursday night to bring his postseason assist and point total to five. The hometown centreman shares the team lead in assists with Max McCue.
In Game 1, McCue, who also shares the team lead in points with Denver Barkey, secured his third multi-point outing of the playoffs. The newly signed Columbus Blue Jacket is coming off a career-high 61-point season.
With an assist on Oliver Bonk’s game-winning goal, Easton Cowan extended his point streak to 41 games.
Postseason Special Teams
- Power Play – 28.6% (5th)
- Penalty Kill – 84.2% (4th)
Know the Foe – Kitchener Rangers (4-3-0)
The Kitchener Rangers advanced to the second round by eliminating the Erie Otters in six games.
With a goal and two assists, Hunter Brzustewicz had a game-high three points in the series opener. The Michigan product’s 92-point campaign was the second most among defencemen – only trailing Saginaw’s Zayne Parekh (96). Brzustewicz was a third-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks in the 2023 NHL draft but got traded to the Calgary Flames in January 2024.
Filip Mešár, the postseason assist (11) and point (12) leader, dished two helpers in Game 1 to extend his point streak to four. Eduard Šalé recorded his fifth multi-point performance of the playoffs with a goal and an assist on Thursday.
Postseason Special Teams
- Power Play – 30.4% (3rd)
- Penalty Kill – 84.6% (3rd)
Game 2 goes from Budweiser Gardens on Saturday. The puck drops at 4:00 p.m. EST.
