KNIGHTS LOOK TO EXTEND SERIES LEAD IN GAME TWO
Knights Looking to Extend Series Lead
By Yannis Economopoulos
LONDON, ON – On Friday night, the London Knights defeated the Flint Firebirds 3-0 in Game 1 of their first-round matchup. This afternoon, the green and gold will look to take a 2-0 series lead before heading to Flint on Tuesday.
Scouting the Knights (1-0-0)
Kaleb Lawrence appeared in the fourth playoff game of his OHL career on Friday and earned his first couple of points with two goals. Through 28 regular season outings with the Knights, the 6-foot-6 centreman notched 19 points (10G, 9A). Lawrence, an Orleans, Ont. native, was drafted in the second round, 42nd overall, in the 2019 OHL draft and was a seventh-round selection to the Los Angeles Kings in 2022.
In his first postseason appearance as a Knight, Michael Simpson, the reigning playoff MVP, recorded a 23-save shutout. The hometown goaltender posted a 34-10-1-1 record, a .905 save percentage (T-3rd), 2.61 goals against average (1st), and four shutouts (T-1st) in the regular season.
Game 1 Special Teams
- Power play: 0-for-2
- Penalty kill: 4-for-4
Know the Foe – Flint Firebirds (0-1-0)
Heading into the postseason, the Flint Firebirds were on a three-game losing skid and owned a 4-5-1-0 record in their last 10 matchups.
Oliver Peer, acquired by the Firebirds from Windsor in early January, tallied 33 points in 30 games for Flint. The overage forward, signed as a free agent by the Spitfires in 2021, finished with 80 points in 67 outings this season, surpassing his previous career high of 67. In four meetings against London this year, Peer had four assists.
When the Firebirds visited the Bud in November, Coulson Pitre’s hat trick led Flint to a 7-4 win. The Anaheim Ducks prospect tallied 28 goals, 27 assists, and 55 points in 55 appearances this season. The Stouffville, Ont. native ended the campaign on a three-game, five-point streak.
Although he lost and allowed two goals, Nathan Day performed well in Game 1, posting an .895 save percentage.
Game 1 Special Teams
- Power play: 0-for-4
- Penalty kill: 2-for-2
The puck drops from Budweiser Gardens at 2:00 p.m. EST.