KNIGHTS AND RANGERS FACE OFF IN PLAYOFFS FOR THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR
Round 2 Playoff Preview: London Knights (1) vs Kitchener Rangers (4)
By Yannis Economopoulos
LONDON, ON – After sweeping their first-round series against the Flint Firebirds, the London Knights will face the Kitchener Rangers in round two, beginning Thursday night. The green and gold went into the playoffs on a seven-game win streak and a 16-3-1-0 record in their last 20 contests. Now, including the postseason, they have won 11 straight games.
Scouting the Knights (4-0-0) Denver Barkey had an exceptional breakout year for the Knights this season, potting 35 goals, 67 assists, and 102 points, good for fourth league-wide. When the postseason began, Barkey carried a nine-game, 16-point streak and found the back of the net in three consecutive contests. In four playoff appearances this year, the Newmarket, Ont. native has a team-leading six points. Easton Cowan, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ first-round pick in 2023, finished second in team scoring, with 96 points on 34 goals and 62 assists in 54 outings. The Mount Brydges, Ont. product ended the season on a 36-game point streak – the longest in franchise history and the third longest in the Canadian Hockey League since 2000. In that span, Cowan tallied 25 goals, 44 assists, and 69 points. Through four postseason outings this year, the 5-foot-10 forward has registered five points. Jacob Julien, who had 16 points in 40 outings last season, exploded for a 78-point campaign this year and has flourished into an excellent two-way centerman. The hometown forward has three points in four playoff games this year. Oliver Bonk, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, was fifth amongst rearguards with 67 points on 24 goals and 43 helpers. He also has three points this postseason.
Postseason Special Teams
- Power play: 33.3% (4th)
- Penalty kill: 80% (4th)
Know the Foe – Kitchener Rangers (4-2-0) The Kitchener Rangers earned a 4-3 overtime win on Tuesday night to eliminate the Erie Otters in six games. Carson Rehkopf, the regular season team leader in goals (52) and points (95), has seven in six playoff games this year. The Seattle Kraken prospect, who represented Canada at the 2024 World Juniors, is on a three-game point streak. Matthew Sop (90) and Hunter Brzustewicz (92) rounded out the team’s top three scoring leaders for the regular season. In round one, Sop recorded five points, while Brzustewicz notched four. After an unlucky, injury-filled campaign, Filip Mešár, now healthy, leads the way for the Rangers this postseason. In six games, the Slovakian forward has a goal and nine assists for 10 points. Mešár was selected by the Montreal Canadiens at 26th overall in the 2022 NHL draft.
Postseason Special Teams
- Power play: 36.8% (2nd)
- Penalty kill: 85.7% (3rd)
Between the Pipes
- London: Michael Simpson was outstanding in net for the Knights this year. The overage netminder had a 34-10-1-1 record, a .905 save percentage (T-3rd), 2.61 goals against average (1st), and four shutouts (T-1st). Last season, he led the Peterborough Petes to an OHL championship and was named the playoff MVP. Simpson registered a 2.14 goals against average, a .917 save percentage, and a shutout in round one.
- Kitchener: Jackson Parsons was very solid throughout the year for the Rangers. He posted a 27-18-2-0 record, an .897 save percentage (9th), a 2.99 goals against average (4th), and four shutouts (T-1st). Against Erie, he had an .895 save percentage and a 3.28 goals against average.
Game 1 goes from Budweiser Gardens at 7:00 p.m. EST.
