Game Preview: Spitfires vs Knights
Windsor, ON – Fresh off a 5-2 loss on Sunday afternoon against the Soo Greyhounds, the Windsor Spitfires will turn their focus to their 401 rivals, the London Knights. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm in Windsor at The WFCU Centre.
- TV: YourTV Windsor
- Video Stream: OHL Live on CHL TV
- Radio: AM800
- Live Stats
- Live Tweets
Head-to-Head:
The Spitfires head into Thursday’s game placed last in the OHL’s Western Conference with a 4-10-1-0 record. The London Knights are currently placed third in the conference with a 9-5-0-1 record. Most recently, they faced the Kitchener Rangers at home where they lost 4-2.
Thursday’s contest will be the first of six meetings this season between the two clubs. Over the past five seasons, the division rivals have faced off 26 times in the regular season. The Spitfires are 8-14-2-2 overall against the Knights and 4-7-0-2 in Windsor.
The last time the two teams met was last year at the end of the regular season for a home and home series. The Spitfires won 6-3 at the Bud Gardens and then lost at home by the same score the next night.
Scouting the Spitfires:
Liam Greentree (NHL draft eligible) is tied for the the Spitfires lead in points (17) and goals (8). Greentree missed the last three games with an UBI and is hopeful to play on Thursday night.
Oliver Peer is tied with Greentree with 17 points with 7 goals and 10 assists. Peer has recorded 7 points in his last five games (3 goals, 4 assists).
Rodwin Dionicio (Anaheim Ducks) is second in points with 14 points in 13 games. Dionicio has a six game point streak which includes two goals and seven assists.
Alex Christopoulos has played in six games after coming off the IR. He has 9 points in those games and is set to make his 200th career OHL game on Thursday. He spoke briefly on his accomplishment.
Scouting the Knights:
Their last time out, the Knights lost to Kitchener Owen Sound 4-2. Eaton Cowan had a goal and an assist on the night. Michael Simpson had a solid performance stopping 31/35 shots.
Denver Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers) leads the Knights with 19 points (9G, 10A). He has registered at least one point in 13 out of 15 games he’s played so far this season.
Easton Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs) has played in ten games and recorded 18 points with seven goals and 11 assists since being reassigned to the Knights from the Maple Leafs. Selected 28th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft Cowan is London’s highest draft pick on their roster.
The Knights have eight players on their roster drafted to NHL teams; Cowan (Toronto Maple Leafs), Kasper Halttunen (San Jose Sharks), Max McCue (San Jose Sharks), Barkey (Philadelphia Flyers), Landon Sim (St. Louis Blues), Isaiah George (New York Islanders), Oliver Bonk (Philadelphia Flyers) and Jackson Edwards (Boston Bruins).
Next Up:
The Windsor Spitfires will head to Saginaw for a weekend home and home series against the Spirit. Puck drop is set for 7:05pm at the Dow Event Center. The Spitfires get back to The WFCU Centre on Sunday for our TMNT night. The puck will drop at 4:05pm. Don’t forget to bring your skates for Skate with the Spits after the game! Also, it is Cans for A Cause night; please bring your cans for collection for society of St. Vincent De-Paul.
