GAME PREVIEW: Western Conference Final Game 3 vs. London
Saginaw, Mich. — The Saginaw Spirit welcome the London Knights to the Dow Event Center on Monday night for Game 3 of the Western Conference Final. Saginaw looks to step back into the series, trailing 2-0 after the first two games in London.
Tonight’s Game:
Puck drop is at 7:05 PM
Broadcast:
Television: CHL TV, CHL App, OHL Action Pak Ch. 467
Radio: 100.5 FM WSGW, WSGW.com
Head-to-head:
The Saginaw Spirit and London Knights faced each other four times in the regular season, with the series splitting 2-2. Neither team won a game on the road against the other all season. London leads the third-round series 2-0 after a pair of 3-1 wins on home ice.
Ruslan Gazizov and Kasper Halttunen scored the first two goals of Game 2, but a Saginaw goal from Rodwin Dionicio made the score 2-1 going into the third period. Eventually, Ruslan Gazizov tacked on an empty-netter to give the Knights a 3-1 victory over the Spirit. Michael Simpson started in net for London, saving 17 of 18 shots while Nolan Lalonde saved 24 of 26 shots for Saginaw.
Players to Watch:
Owen Beck, Calem Magone, and Rodwin Dionicio are all tied for most points on the team with ten. Beck leads the team in assists with eight with an additional two power play goals. Mangone and Dionicio are tied for most goals (5), including five assists to each of them. Dionicio has Saginaw’s only two goals in the Conference Final, scoring in both Game 1 and Game 2. Nolan Lalonde has posted a 2.65 GAA, a .900 SV%, and three wins since replacing stepping in for the injured Andrew Oke.
Kasper Halttunen leads the Knights in points (14) and goals (9) this postseason. Denver Barkey follows behind him with 13 and a team leading nine assists (seventh in the OHL). Jacob Julien Julien has been dangerous on power plays, scoring four power play goals this postseason (first in the OHL Playoffs). Michael Simpson has started all ten playoff games for London, amassing a 2.16 GAA (third in the OHL), a .917 SV% (fifth in the OHL), ten wins (tied for first in the OHL), and one shutout.