BROKEN SPIRITS
One point. It’s all the London Knights needed to hit 100 on the season for the ninth time in the last 13 years. They got that point and another one in a 5-2 victory over the Spirit in Saginaw.
The trio of Max Jones, Aaron Berisha, and Cliff Pu got the scoring started after a couple of big pad saves from Brendan Burke. Jones fed Berisha across the Spirit blue line, gave the puck back to Jones on the left side and Jones found Cliff Pu headed to the net for a tap-in and a 1-0 London lead.
The Knights created all kinds of chances in the second period, outshooting the Spirit 15-4 and they added to their lead.
Saginaw survived a London power play, but seconds after the penalty ended, J.J. Piccinich rushed the puck in across the Spirit blue line and fed Max Jones, who drew Saginaw goalie, Evan Cormier, to the left side of the net and snapped the puck into the top right corner for his 25th goal of the season and a 2-0 Knight lead.
Matthew Tkachuk put London ahead 3-0 after a beautiful set-up from Christian Dvorak who found Tkachuk at the side of the Spirit net.
Matthew Kreis of the Spirit put them on the board on a power play with 2:22 to go in the second as he converted a pass from Artem Artemov and it was 3-1 for the Knights after 40 minutes.
The Knights scored early in the third as Christian Dvorak knocked in his OHL leading 51st goal of the year from in close, restoring London’s three-goal lead at 4-1.
Connor Brown scored a late power play goal for the Spirit to make it 4-2. The Spirit pulled the goalie with over two minutes remaining and Matthew Tkachuk sent the puck down the ice from behind his own goal line and into the empty net to finish the scoring.
Tkachuk extended his point streak to 16 games. Dvorak and Jones each had a goal and an assist and Victor Mete added two assists and was a plus-5.
The Erie Otters defeated Guelph, so the Knights and Otters remain tied with 101 points atop the standings.
The Knights now have three games left on their regular season schedule. They will visit Flint on Wednesday and then return to Budweiser Gardens to start a home-and-home with Erie in what could decide first overall in the OHL.
Don’t miss the March Breakaway featuring the Knights on Monday from 1 until 3 PM at White Oaks Mall. For details, visit www.londonknights.com
The Knights will return home on Friday, March 18th when they take on the Erie Otters. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:30pm. Make sure to visit http://londonknights.com/page/tickets-i, the Aluminum Associates London Knights Armoury, OMAC Mortgages London Knights Box Office, or call 519-681-0800 ext. 1 for more information.
