KNIGHTS SET TO FACE FIREBIRDS IN ROUND ONE
By Yannis Economopoulos
Round 1 Playoff Preview:
London Knights (1) vs Flint Firebirds (8)
LONDON, ON – After a tremendous regular season that saw them clinch the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the league’s top team, the London Knights are set to begin a first-round matchup with Flint Firebirds on Friday night. The green and gold head into the playoffs on a seven-game win streak and a 16-3-1-0 record in their last 20 contests.
Scouting the Knights
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. Heading into the postseason, Barkey carries a nine-game, 16-point streak and has found the back of the net in three consecutive contests. The Newmarket, Ont. native was selected 95th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2023 and recently signed his first NHL contract. In last year’s playoffs, Barkey recorded 24 points in 20 games.
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 such streak 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 20 postseason appearances last year, the 5-foot-10 forward registered 21 points.
X-Factors:
- Ruslan Gazizov led the Knights with 36 goals and finished third with 81 points, shattering his previous career high of 48.
- 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 centreman.
- Sam Dickinson and Oliver Bonk were both top-five blueliners this year. Dickinson, eligible for the NHL draft in June, had 18 goals, 52 assists, and 70 points, good for fourth amongst defencemen. Meanwhile, Bonk, a Philadelphia Flyers prospect, was fifth amongst rearguards with 67 points on 24 goals and 43 helpers.
Know the Foe
The Flint Firebirds ended the season on a three-game losing skid and are 4-5-1-0 in their last 10 matchups.
Key Players:
- 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.
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.
Flint: Nathan Day had an underwhelming season for the Firebirds. He posted a 25-26-1-1 record, an .868 save percentage (24th), and a 3.73 goals against average (T-16th).