KNIGHTS HONOUR TROOPS IN 4-0 ROUTE OF STORM
London, Ont. – Kasper Halttunen buried two goals, and the London Knights scored three special team markers in their 4-0 win against the Guelph Storm on Friday night, sweeping a weekend trio of games.
For a third consecutive matchup, London (12-5-0-1) opened the scoring in the first period – this time, it was Denver Barkey finishing a shorthanded 2-on-1 entry with Easton Cowan. Barkey’s 11th of the season made him the league leader in shorthanded goals (3) as the Knights’ top two players extended their point streaks to seven games apiece.
During the middle frame, Halttunen’s two goals put London ahead 3-0. The Green and Gold were awarded a power play early in the period, which saw the Finnish winger, from his office at the faceoff circle, put a one-timer past Guelph (10-7-0-0) goaltender Brayden Gillespie for his league-leading eighth marker on the man advantage.
Just over the midway point, Halttunen tucked away his 14th of the campaign on a rebound right outside the crease.
Michael Simpson saved 28 shots, earning his first shutout as a Knight, while Gillespie, who entered the contest as the league leader in wins (9) and goals against average (2.24), stopped 23 in the loss.
With 20 seconds remaining in the game, London forward Jacob Julien, who also recorded an assist, slotted the empty netter in for the team’s second shorthanded tally.
Knights defenceman Sam Dickinson, who produced a helper, had a glorious opportunity to end an 11-game goal drought. On the power play, the sophomore had an open net but hit the iron on a wrist shot from the right circle. Gillespie eventually found the loose puck and covered up.
London is back in action on Wednesday as they visit Guelph for another date with the Storm. The puck drops at 6:30 p.m. EST.
NOTES
Guelph stormed into London with the league’s second-ranked power play (28.2%) but went 0-for-4 on the night.
The Knights capitalized once on three chances against the Storm’s No. 1 penalty kill (91.9%), making them 13-for-63 on the power play this season.
