Friday Knight
London Knights (23-9-0-1) vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (19-13-1-2)
When: Tonight, 7:30 p.m. at the John Labatt Centre. Tickets still available. Call (519) 681-0800 or www.londonknights.com
THE MATCHUP: It’s a quick turnaround from London’s 6-5 shootout win Dec. 6 over the Hounds. Nazem Kadri, Daniel Erlich and Jared Knight scored third-period goals to pull the Knights out of a 4-2 hole and Stephen Sanza was the lone successful shooter in a six-round shootout duel between London rookie Michael Houser and monstrous Soo goalie Robin Lehner. Houser also stopped talented Brett Thompson on a second-period penalty shot to keep it close and cue the late comeback. The Knights have two one-goal wins against the Hounds this season.
WHO TO WATCH: Knights — F Daniel Erlich. London needs this guy to rediscover his offensive spark in the second half. He had 18 goals and 53 points last season. He vowed to shoot more this year but his goal against the Soo two weeks ago ended an 11-game drought; Greyhounds — Jake Muzzin. A valuable addition to any contending team, the overage captain from Woodstock just might stick around on a surprisingly successful Soo squad. He’s big and strong and enjoying the best offensive season of his career, recently pushing into the OHL’s top 20 scorers.
WORLD JUNIORS: Nazem Kadri cracked the Canadian lineup. Phil McRae is trying out for the United States team in Grand Forks, N.D. Ex-Knight John Carlson, now with the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, has already cracked the American lineup (no, he won’t be coming back to London after the tournament — wishful thinking). On the Soo side, winger Tomas Rachunek is a candidate for the Czech team while G Robin Lehner, an Ottawa Senators second rounder, is currently third on the Swedish team’s depth chart. He leaves after tonight’s game for Sweden’s camp. In the Sault, he has battled for crease time with 18-year-old Bryce O’Hagan, who recorded a shutout at the JLC in the only game he played for Team Ontario at the 2008 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge — a 3-0 win over the U.S. in the gold-medal game.
STREAKERS: London D Steve Tarasuk entered Windsor with a league-best, 11-game point streak. Ottawa’s Ryan Martindale ripped off a 16-gamer from Sept. 25 to Nov. 6. Heading into the Spits showdown, F Jared Knight scored in eight straight games (10 goals), which is tops in the OHL this season.
GET SHORTIES: Both clubs are dangerous when killing penalties. There was a stretch when the Knights were more deadly shorthanded than on the power play, which has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Brett Thompson has breakaway speed for the Hounds and he scored one of two shorties against the Knights Dec. 6. With Kadri gone, the Knights will count on Justin Taylor, Zac Rinaldo and Tarasuk to go for the backbreaking goal.
