KNIGHTS DOWN SPIRIT 6-2
This was the first home game for the Saginaw Spirit since the death of Terry Trafford. A moment of silence was held in memory of Trafford and the Knights and Spirit shook hands prior to the game.
Spirit President and Governor, Craig Goslin says the team has been, “trying to help the players through a difficult time” and admits the players “have really been struggling through this week.”
Goslin did say the Ontario Hockey League and its teams have been more like the “Ontario Hockey Family” and he is grateful for everyone’s support.
The Spirit honoured overage players Kristoff Kontos, Eric Locke and former Knight, Justin Sefton before the game as well.
Once the game began, it didn’t take long for the first goal to find its way into the net as London captain Chris Tierney rifled home his 40th of the season just 25 seconds into the first period.
The Knights would follow that up with goals by Mitchell Marner and Matt Rupert to extend their lead to 3-0.
The Max Domi picked off a puck in centre ice while London was killing a penalty. He went in alone and scored the Knights’ league leading 18th short-handed goal of the season. (The Niagara Falls Thunder and Oshawa Generals hold the record with 27).
The Saginaw Spirit scored their first of two on the night on the power play just under seven minutes into the second period as Kristoff Kontos knocked home a rebound in front.
The Knights would restore their four goal lead on a wildly incredible play by Mitchell Marner. He found a puck in centre ice, somehow avoided a hit from Eric Locke, deked out another Saginaw player, split the defense and then passed off to Owen MacDonald to make it 5-1 London.
The Knights would add their 311th goal of the season in the third period as Bo Horvat literally connected on his 30th of the year. The puck deflected up in the air like a pop fly and before it could hit the ice, Horvat batted it into the Spirit net.
Justin Sefton would finish the scoring in the final minute of the third with a power play goal to bring the score to 6-2.
London was outshot for just the 12th time in 67 games as the Spirit fired 43 pucks at Anthony Stolarz and the big man helped his league-leading save percentage with some big glove grabs and a few other high degree of difficulty stops.
Jake Paterson made 24 saves in goal for Saginaw.
While the Knights were winning, so were the Erie Otters. They defeated Sarnia 8-4, meaning London will face Windsor in Round One of the playoffs.
Game One will be Friday at 7:30 at Budweiser Gardens.
Mike Stubbs
NewsTalk 1290 CJBK – Play by Play Voice of the London Knights
