Knights Take Game One 3-2 in Overtime
Tyler Ferry scored the game winner 1:51 into the overtime period as the London Knights defeated the Kitchener Rangers 3-2 on Thursday night. Max Domi scored twice for the Knights, while Tobias Rieder and Ben Thomson each recorded a goal for Kitchener. Rangers goaltender John Gibson made 47 saves in the loss and was named the contest’s first star. The Knights take a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final, which shifts to Kitchener on Sunday, April 22.
The Rangers opened the scoring with a power play goal 13:52 in the first period. Michael Catenacci moved the puck to Tobias Rieder in the slot and the import forward snapped a quick shot over the glove hand of Knights goalie Michael Houser. Ryan Murphy also assisted on Rieder’s league-leading 11th goal of playoffs.
Each team fired eight shots on goal in the opening frame.
The Knights pulled even in the second period. With five minutes remaining in the frame, Max Domi jumped on a turnover inside the Rangers’ blueline. The rookie forward fired the puck high blocker-side, just under the crossbar and over Kitchener netminder John Gibson. The unassisted goal was Domi’s first of the playoffs.
But the Rangers responded just two minutes later. Rieder passed the puck to Murphy near the blueline and his hard shot was stopped by Houser, but the rebound bounced to Ben Thomson to the right of the London net. He fired it past the Knights keeper for his fourth of the spring. With the assist Rieder took the lead in OHL scoring with 25 points. Murphy’s helper brought his postseason points total to 16, the most amongst league defensemen.
London out-shot the Rangers 15-7 in the middle frame.
Domi’s second goal of the night evened the score with five minutes remaining in regulation. The freshman was waiting to the right of Gibson to lift Andreas Athanasiou’s long shot over the goaltender. Austin Watson also assisted on the play.
With the score tied at 2-2, the game went into overtime. The Knights led shots on goal 24-7 in the third period and held a 47-22 overall advantage through regulation.
Less than two minutes into the extra frame the Knights jumped on an odd-man rush and Tyler Ferry fired a shot that bounced off the glove of Gibson and landed behind the goal line. The defenseman’s first career playoff goal was assisted by team-scoring leader Seth Griffith and Vladislav Namestnikov.
The Knights fired the only shot on goal in the overtime period and finished the game with a 48-22 advantage. Gibson made 47 saves in the loss and received first star honours.
The Knights take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference Final series, which resumes on Sunday, April 22 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. Scheduling and ticket information can be found here.
Scoring
1. KIT T. Rieder, (11) (M. Catenacci, R. Murphy), 13:52 (PP)
2. LDN M. Domi, (1) (unassisted), 14:58
2. KIT B. Thomson, (4) (T. Rieder, R. Murphy), 16:53
3. LDN M. Domi, (2) (A. Athanasiou, A. Watson), 14:45
OT. LDN T. Ferry, (1) (S. Griffith, V. Namestnikov), 1:51
Three Stars
1. KIT – 35 John Gibson
2. LDN – 16 Max Domi
3. LDN – 24 Jarred Tinordi
Attendance: 8.172
Game 2 (Home Game I) of the Western Conference Final hits the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on Sunday, April 22 at 7pm.
Tickets for home game I and J (Round 3, Home Game 1 & 2) are on sale now.
Season ticket holders who have not pre-purchased their playoff tickets will have their tickets held until 48 hours before the start of Game I and J (Round 3, Home Game 1 &2) and if required 24 hours before the start of Game K (Round 3, Home Game 3).
Season Ticket holders who have not pre-purchased must buy Game I (Home Game 1) tickets by end of box office day Friday, April 20. All unclaimed season ticket holder seats for Game I will be released for public sale on Saturday, April 21 at 10:00am.
Season Ticket holders who have not pre-purchased must buy Game J (Home Game 2) tickets by end of box office day Monday, April 23. All unclaimed season ticket holder seats for Game J will be released for public sale on Tuesday, April 24 at 10:00am.
Please do not respond to this email with ticket requests. Tickets may be purchased by phone at 519-578-1570 or 1-800-265-8977, via the internet or in person at The Aud Box Office or Centre in the Square Box Office.
The Aud Box Office Hours
Friday, April 20: 10-6
Saturday, April 21: 10-4
Sunday, April 22: 5 – 8
The Centre In The Square Box Office Hours
Friday, April 20: 10-8
Saturday, April 21: 10-8
Sunday, April 22: 12:30 – 3
Ticket Pricing:
Adults (ages 13 and up) $ 25.25
Children (ages 3 -12) $ 21.50
Please note that there are no refunds or exchanges on playoff ticket purchases
