KNIGHTS BEAT 67’S IN HERBST’S RETURN
There is something about playing against a former team that can bring out a little extra in a player. For Liam Herbst, that little extra was 57 saves. He came up large in the Ottawa 67s’ net, but the Knights kept shooting and came away with a 6-3 win, their 6th in a row.
London struck first on a power play goal by Gemel Smith that came early enough to think that the standings were going to bear out what the game would bring. Smith’s 33rd came 6:20 into the first period to give London a 1-0 lead.
The Knights piled up shots, but could not beat Herbst.
Then came a chance for Ottawa as a giveaway wound up on the stick of Tyler Hill in the London zone and he snapped a puck behind Jake Patterson to tie the game.
The Knights reacted quickly and scored just 31 seconds after that to take a 2-1 lead as Bo Horvat found Max Domi for his 30th on the year and the score stayed that way through to the end of the first 20 minutes.
London outshot Ottawa 23-9 in the period.
In the second, the first overall pick in 2013 and Klachan native, Travis Konecny, took a feed and went in alone on Patterson. He made a move to his backhand and suddenly it was 2-2 at 10:05.
A power play goal put Ottawa ahead as Konecny fed Erik Bradford to make it 3-3.
Just six seconds later, the Knights tied the game again, as the Rupert twins went to work. Matt fed Ryan and he beat Herbst on a backhand.
The Knights put 22 shots at the Ottawa net in period two and led 45-22 on the shot clock through two, but the game was even on the scoreboard.
The 67s would get two power plays the third period and but it was the London Knights who had some of the best scoring chances and eventually the go-ahead goal. Josh Anderson moved the puck into the slot, spun and found Matt Rupert and he rifled his 25th low on Herbst.
Matt Rupert would then take a feed from Ryan Rupert to make it 5-3.
Brett Welychka closed out the scoring with an empty-netter to bring him within a goal of 20 on the season.
London ended up firing 63 pucks at the Ottawa net. Ottawa had 26 the other way and only 4 in the third.
Matt Rupert and Ryan Rupert each had three points in the game. So did Josh Anderson, as he recorded three assists.
London has now scored 43 goals on their 6 game winning streak and is within one point of Erie in the Western Conference standings. Erie’s game in Sudbury was post-poned Friday night because of poor ice conditions.
London will visit the Plymouth Whalers on Saturday before travelling to Erie on Wednesday.
Mike Stubbs
NewsTalk 1290 CJBK – Play by Play Voice of the London Knights
