KNIGHTS SWEEP 2015 PRESEASON
OHL hockey took over Stratford, Ontario tonight as the Erie Otters and London Knights moved their preseason action to the historic William Allman Arena for the final game of the home at home series.
For the second straight night, the Knights wasted no time getting on the scoreboard as winger Sam Miletic placed one over the shoulder of Erie goaltender Daniel Dekoning just 1:14 into the game.
Four minutes later Owen Macdonald ripped a second one past Dekoning giving the Knights a 2-0 lead; and another three minutes after that, Ryan Valentini beat Dekoning glove side giving the Knights a 3-0 lead before the 10 minute mark of the first period.
Shaun Bily put the Otters on the board with a power play marker with just three minutes left in the period. The first ended there with the Knights up 3-1 and outshooting the Otters 17-9.
Special teams was the theme in the second as the two traded power play goals early on. Defenceman Olli Juolevi scored for London just one minute in while Erie’s Taylor Raddysh squeaked one by Emanuel Vella just three minutes after that. Knights’ defenceman Nicolas Mattinen danced in unassisted and scored short-handed at the six minute mark into the period giving the Knights a 5-2 lead.
Both teams made a goalie change at the 10 minute mark with Jake Lawr taking over the Erie net and Michael Giugovaz replacing Vella for the Knights. Taylor Raddysh scored his second power play goal of the night with help from a screen in front of Giugovaz bringing the Otters back within two. The period finished there with London leading Erie 5-3 and outshooting the Otters 25-18 after forty minutes.
Brandon Crawley scored early in the third restoring the Knights’ three goal lead. That lead didn’t last long as London ran into penalty trouble shortly after that. Erie capitalized with a 5-on-3 goal by Alex DeBrincat bringing them back within two. The Otters then brought themselves within one with a power play goal scored by Taylor Egan with just 6 minutes left in the game. Despite pulling their goalie, Erie couldn’t solve Giugovaz and the Knights held off for a 6-5 victory.
This final game ends the Knights 2015 preseason and gives them an undefeated 4-0 record.
The Knights will officially open the 2015-16 regular season with back to back games at Budweiser Gardens as they take on the Hamilton Bulldogs on Friday, September 25th at 7:30pm and the Kingston Frontenacs on Saturday, September 26th at 7:00pm. Fans interested in purchasing tickets can do so here.
