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London Knights Rally to Win Against Owen Sound Attack
In a thrilling matchup, the London Knights overcame a late-game deficit to tie the score and ultimately defeat the Owen Sound Attack, finishing the game at 4-3 in a shootout. The Knights found themselves trailing 3-1 with less than 90 seconds remaining in the third period but managed a remarkable comeback.
With only 38 seconds left, Kasper Halttunen and Oliver Bonk scored back-to-back goals at 18:38 and 19:16, respectively, setting the stage for overtime.
The London Knights struck first, with Logan Hawery finding the net just over a minute into the second period, scoring with a setup from Denver Barkey, who maneuvered behind the Owen Sound net. This marked Hawery’s noteworthy contribution as a first-round pick in the upcoming 2024 draft. Easton Cowan, who assisted on the goal, continued his impressive form, extending his point streak to an impressive 53 consecutive games.
The Attack responded with a surge of their own, with Sam McCue scoring two goals in the second period to put Owen Sound ahead 2-1 by the end of the second frame. McCue, the younger sibling of former Knight Max McCue, is currently leading the Attack’s scoring efforts.
First Overtime Showdown
The third period added to the tension, as Bruce McDonald extended Owen Sound’s lead to 3-1 before the Knights faced a critical moment—a 5-on-3 power play opportunity that they were unable to convert. However, the drama peaked when Halttunen and Bonk turned the game around in the final seconds.
During overtime, Knights’ goaltender Austin Elliott faced two critical breakaway chances from the Attack but successfully thwarted both, including a significant save against Bruce McDonald. The defining moment came when Will Nicholl set up Halttunen for what seemed like a game-winning shot, but Carter George made an incredible last-ditch save, maintaining the intensity of the match.
In the shootout, Cowan and Jacob Julien found the back of the net for London, while Elliott stopped four out of five shootout shots, showcasing his skill in critical moments. Overall, the Knights dominated in terms of shots, outshooting the Attack 18-4 in the third period and 38-24 throughout the game.
Power Play Performance
Despite their strong power play ranking—holding the top unit in the league—Owen Sound was held to 0-for-5 against the Knights. Conversely, they successfully converted on one of their three power play opportunities.
Diaco Shines in Sweden
In related hockey news, former Knight George Diaco is making waves in the Swedish Hockeyettan, leading Vasterviks IK with 11 goals in 18 games this season. Known for his contributions during his tenure with the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he won an OHL championship in 2022 and later helped the Knights reach the OHL Championship series, Diaco is now firmly established as the highest-scoring Canadian-born player in his current league.
Next Up for the Knights
The Knights are set to travel to mid-Michigan on Saturday, November 23, for a matchup against the Saginaw Spirit. This will be the third encounter between the two teams in the current season, with each having secured victory on home ice previously. London has maintained a strong performance recently, winning 16 of their last 17 games, with their sole loss during this stretch attributed to the Spirit back on October 18.
Fans can tune in for live coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL, or via www.980cfpl.ca and the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.
Source
globalnews.ca