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Knights Edge Attack in Playoff Showdown

In a thrilling encounter at Canada Life Place, the London Knights captain Denver Barkey shone brightly, scoring two goals and registering three assists to propel the Knights to a 6-3 victory over the Owen Sound Attack in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarter-final series. This win puts London ahead 2-0 in the series, though it was far from a straightforward triumph.

The Knights took a commanding lead early on, netting four goals in the first period. However, the Attack demonstrated resilience by clawing back, nearly equalizing with three goals in the second period to bring the score to 4-3. The tension remained high until Kasper Halttunen scored on a power play with 3:13 left in the game, providing the Knights with much-needed breathing room.

Barkey initiated the Knights’ scoring with what initially appeared to be a pass to teammate Easton Cowan; instead, the puck deflected off an Owen Sound defender’s skate, slipping through the legs of goaltender Carter George, giving London a 1-0 lead. Shortly thereafter, Barkey successfully assisted Cowan, whose shot, despite a broken stick, crossed the goal line for Cowan’s first playoff goal at 9:37 of the first period.

Barkey also showcased his playmaking skills by setting up Landon Sim on a power play for London’s third goal. Jared Woolley capped off a well-executed three-way passing play with the fourth Knights goal, leaving the Attack trailing 4-0 as they headed into the first intermission.

Owen Sound fought back fiercely in the second period, scoring three consecutive goals. The Attack managed to find the net in various ways – via power play, a short-handed effort, and even strength, with contributions from players Pierce Mbuyi, Bruce McDonald, and Tristan Delisle, closing the gap to just one goal before the start of the third period.

Knights goaltender Austin Elliott came up big in the final frame, preventing the Attack from tying the game with crucial saves. The Knights finally stretched their lead again when Halttunen capitalized on a rebound from an Oliver Bonk shot, scoring his second postseason goal. Barkey then sealed the win with an empty-net goal just over a minute before the final buzzer.

The Knights converted 2-of-4 power play chances while the Attack struggled, going just 1-for-8, and London outshot Owen Sound 41-25 during the contest.

Playoff Scoring Surge

During the 2024-25 OHL regular season, teams averaged 7.32 goals per game, but that number has significantly increased during the playoffs. The current playoffs have seen a combined average of 8.9 goals per game across the first ten games. Standout performances have come from the Erie Otters and the Saginaw Spirit, with the Otters achieving victories of 8-5 and 9-5 in their initial games. Additionally, the Windsor Spitfires have also notched impressive numbers, scoring seven goals in both of their opening matches.

What’s Next

The series now shifts to Owen Sound, where Games 3 and 4 will take place. The third game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre, with Game 4 following on Thursday, April 3 at the same time.

Fans can catch the coverage of both games starting at 6:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL and online at 980cfpl.ca, as well as on the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.

Source
globalnews.ca