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Knights Dominate Attack in First Game of Playoffs
In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, Sam Dickinson contributed significantly to the London Knights’ commanding 6-1 victory over the Owen Sound Attack in the opening match of their Western Conference quarter-final series on March 28 at Canada Life Place.
The game showcased a blend of physical play and intense rivalry, as both teams sought to establish their presence at the onset of the series. The action began with a scuffle at center ice, where Knights’ Jared Woolley engaged in a bout with Owen Sound’s Landon Hookey.
It didn’t take long for the Knights to seize the lead; just 7:02 into the match, they scored on a power play. Sam O’Reilly received a pass from Easton Cowan right in front of the Attack’s goalie, Carter George. O’Reilly executed a clever fake before slipping the puck through George’s pads, marking the first goal of the series.
Dickinson quickly followed up with two goals of his own, first firing a wrist shot past George at the 15:54 mark, then capitalizing on a loose puck to score again shortly thereafter, extending London’s lead to three by the end of the first period.
As the second period commenced, the Attack showed resilience by killing off a double-minor penalty against forward Declan Waddick. This momentum led to a goal by former Knight Alec Leonard at 9:20, narrowing London’s lead to 3-1.
However, the Knights regained control in the waning seconds of the second period when Henry Brzustewicz created a turnover, allowing Easton Cowan to assist Denver Barkey, who found the net just as the period came to a close, making it 4-1 for London.
In the third period, London continued to apply pressure, leading to another goal from Landon Sim after forcing a turnover in the Attack’s zone, further stretching their lead to 5-1. Barely a minute later, Kasper Halttunen scored, this time using a deceptive move that allowed him to slip the puck past George after banking it off the goalie.
Both Halttunen and Barkey finished the game with a goal and an assist each, while Barkey added an additional assist for good measure. The Knights outshot the Attack significantly, with a total of 42 shots compared to Owen Sound’s 25.
Power Play Success and Defensive Accomplishments
The Knights excelled on special teams, converting two out of six power play opportunities while successfully stopping all four of the Attack’s power plays.
Regular Season Success Recognized
Following a strong regular season, the Knights celebrated numerous individual accolades. Goaltenders Austin Elliott and Aleksei Medvedev jointly earned the Dave Pinkney Trophy for the lowest goals against average. Medvedev further distinguished himself by garnering the F.W. Dinty Moore Trophy for the best goals against average among rookie goalies.
Additionally, Elliott was named the OHL Goaltender of the Month for March after finishing the regular season undefeated at 7-0-0 with an impressive 1.70 goals against average and a .972 save percentage. Sam Dickinson, who showcased his prowess on defense, earned the title of Defenceman of the Month with six goals and 12 assists over ten games, leading the Knights in scoring for the season and finishing with an outstanding plus-minus rating of +64.
Looking Ahead
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, at 2 p.m. at Canada Life Place, with coverage beginning at 1:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL and via the iHeart Radio and Radioplayer Canada apps.
Source
globalnews.ca