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London Knights Triumph Over Erie Otters in Playoff Opener
In an exhilarating start to the Western Conference semi-finals, the London Knights claimed a 6-3 victory against the Erie Otters on April 10 at Canada Life Place, thanks in large part to a stellar hat trick from captain Denver Barkey.
Barkey has proven to be an offensive powerhouse throughout the 2025 OHL playoffs, maintaining an impressive average of three points per game. He now boasts a total of eight goals and seven assists over the course of just five games.
The matchup embodied the intensity of playoff hockey, characterized by tight checking and limited offensive opportunities.
In a rapid sequence during the first period, goals were exchanged just 34 seconds apart, leaving both teams deadlocked at 1-1 after 20 minutes. The Otters struck first when overager Pano Fimis lit the lamp with a wrist shot on a power play at the 18:03 mark. However, the Knights responded immediately as defenseman Cam Allen took the puck from his own zone and surged down the ice to score, evening the contest.
As the second period commenced, the 2021 OHL Priority Selection class took center stage, with Easton Cowan assisting on both Barkey’s and Oliver Bonk’s goals, establishing a 3-1 advantage for the Knights by the 9:21 mark.
Cowan’s playmaking was pivotal, as he notched four assists in total, while Sam O’Reilly contributed two goals. London extended its lead to 4-1 with a power play goal from Landon Sim at 16:30. Sim found the net after a clever play by Kasper Halttunen, who faked a shot to create space.
However, the Otters quickly countered. Just 17 seconds later, Dylan Edwards capitalized on a faceoff to score, and within another 12 seconds, Wesley Royston netted another goal, narrowing the Knights’ lead to 4-3 by the end of the second period.
In the third period, Barkey continued to lead, scoring his second of the night just 53 seconds in during a 5-on-3 power play situation, making it 5-3. The captain sealed the night with his hat trick, scoring into an empty net with only 58.1 seconds left on the clock.
Goaltender Austin Elliott secured the win for the Knights, boasting a remarkable 40-1 overall record this season, encompassing both regular season and playoff games since joining London from the Saskatoon Blades.
London dominated the shooting department, outpacing Erie with a total of 36 shots compared to the Otters’ 27. The Knights converted 2 of their 6 power play opportunities, whereas the Otters were 1 for 3.
Noah Read Earns OHL Rookie of the Week Honors
Meanwhile, rookie forward Noah Read of the London Knights made headlines by being named the Ontario Hockey League Rookie of the Week. He achieved this recognition following a standout performance against the Owen Sound Attack, where he registered a hat trick alongside an assist during the Knights’ 8-4 victory. A 10th-round pick in 2023, Read fought hard to secure his spot on the roster after joining training camp in 2024 without assurances of making the team. This season, he has tallied 10 goals and 26 points over 45 games and is currently ranked #187 by NHL Central Scouting for the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
Looking Ahead
The teams will meet again for Game 2 on Saturday, April 12 at 7 p.m. at Canada Life Place. Fans can catch coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL, as well as on the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.
Source
globalnews.ca