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Knights Dominate Otters in Game 2 of Playoff Series

The London Knights, led by captain Denver Barkey, put on a commanding performance, defeating the Erie Otters 7-2 on April 12 at Canada Life Place. Barkey not only scored a goal but also contributed three assists, bringing his postseason tally to an impressive 17 points over the first six playoff encounters of the 2025 season, averaging more than three points per game.

As a team, the Knights have showcased their offensive prowess, scoring at least six goals in each of their playoff contests thus far. Easton Cowan also made significant contributions, netting two goals and adding an assist, while teammate Will Nicholl recorded a goal and two assists. Landon Sim chipped in with a goal and an assist, further solidifying the Knights’ attack.

This victory pulls London ahead in the best-of-seven series, with a commanding two-games-to-none lead. The Otters once again started the game strong, scoring first on a power play, a scenario they replicated from Game 1. Pano Fimis initiated the play with a shot that resulted in a rebound, allowing Sam Alfano to push it across the goal line just 5:57 into the match, giving Erie a brief 1-0 advantage.

However, the tide shifted when a penalizing hit by Ty Henry on Kasper Halttunen energized the Knights, allowing them to score three consecutive goals. The first came from Cam Allen, who executed a behind-the-back pass to Nicholl, setting up a laser shot past Erie’s Noah Erliden to tie the game at 1-1 at the 9:27 mark.

Barkey then made a significant impact by orchestrating a play from his own zone and finishing it at the opposite end, scoring at 14:32 to put London up 2-1. He initiated a breakout, received a feed from Nicholl behind the net, and delivered a precise shot into the net.

Game Highlights

Less than three minutes later, Blake Montgomery intercepted a pass at center ice and followed it up by collecting a puck from a dump-in. This led to a 3-1 advantage for the Knights by the end of the first period.

Sim notched his fifth goal of the playoffs early in the second period, thanks to a drop-pass from Halttunen. But the Otters quickly responded with a power-play goal, narrowing the score to 4-2. With less than ten seconds remaining in the second, Cowan exhibited remarkable skill, spinning past a defender and scoring his fifth of the postseason to extend London’s lead to 5-2.

After a stretch pass from Barkey opened up opportunities in the third period, Cowan secured his second goal of the night, bringing his playoff total to six and pushing the score to 6-2. The game concluded with a tap-in goal from Henry Brzustewicz, solidifying the Knights’ dominating 7-2 victory.

Despite facing a strong effort, the Otters were unable to match the Knights’ scoring efficiency. The game stats reflected London’s dominance, with 42 shots on goal compared to Erie’s 24. On special teams, the Knights were 0-for-4 on power plays, while the Otters managed to score 2 goals on 7 opportunities.

OHL Priority Selection Wraps Up

The 2025 OHL Priority Selection also concluded recently, with 303 players chosen. The Knights secured their first pick at 23rd overall, bringing in Alex Campeau from the Eastern Ontario Wild, and rounded out their selections with Connor Brennan from the Burlington Eagles in the 15th round.

Listeners can find in-depth analyses of the Knights’ picks and standout local players in the two Special Editions of the Knight Shift podcast available at this link.

Looking Ahead

The series between the Knights and the Otters now moves to Erie, Pennsylvania. Game 3 is scheduled for Tuesday, April 15, at 7 p.m. at the Erie Insurance Arena, with Game 4 to follow on Thursday, April 17, at 7 p.m. Fans can tune in for coverage of both games, starting at 6:30 p.m., on 980 CFPL and through various online platforms.

Source
globalnews.ca