KNIGHTS vs SPIRIT | ROUND THREE GAME TWO
Gazizov’s Two Goals Propel Knights to 2-0 Series Lead against Spirit
By Yannis Economopoulos
London, Ont. – Ruslan Gazizov’s two goals lifted the London Knights to a 3-1 win against the Saginaw Spirit in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final on Sunday afternoon.
Five minutes into the opening frame, Gazizov put the Knights (10-0-0) ahead 1-0 with his first goal of the playoffs. Shortly after an unsuccessful power play opportunity, Max McCue entered the Saginaw (8-5-0) zone, then slid a pass to Gazizov, who wired a wrist shot past the blocker of Nolan Lalonde. He later buried an empty net goal late in the third period.
Kasper Halttunen, who entered the contest with four consecutive multi-point outings, scored the game-winner, which extended his point streak to five games. The San Jose Sharks prospect leads the club in goals (9) and points (14) this postseason.
After Halttunen gave London a 2-0 lead in the back half of the first period, Rodwin Dionicio converted on a Saginaw power play thirty seconds into the middle frame, making it a 2-1 game.
Michael Simpson’s 17-save performance was his 10th win of the playoffs. Meanwhile, Lalonde turned away 24 shots in his fifth playoff loss.
The series shifts to Saginaw for Game 3 on Monday night.