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Oilers Prospect Shines in Pre-season Showdown

On Saturday afternoon, Edmonton Oilers prospect Sam O’Reilly showcased his skills at the Joe Thornton Community Centre in St. Thomas, Ontario, leading the London Knights to a thrilling 5-4 shootout victory against the Erie Otters. O’Reilly’s impressive performance included a goal and three assists, highlighting his comfort and familiarity within the arena where he previously played for the London Nationals in the 2022-23 season.

Jesse Nurmi, another standout in the match, not only scored in regulation but also netted the decisive goal in the shootout. O’Reilly contributed to this success by successfully executing a shootout goal of his own. The Knights’ Finn Wilson made a noteworthy debut, stopping both attempts from the Otters during the shootout, while teammate Owen Willmore impressed with a perfect 10 saves in the game.

An early highlight came from Kaeden Johnston, who scored two goals in this match, beginning with a tally at 18:25 of the first period. Johnston’s quick shot, set up by Alec Leonard, put the Knights ahead early. He would later extend the lead in the second period, showcasing his offensive prowess.

During the game, O’Reilly capitalized on a power play opportunity, maneuvering behind the Otters’ net to set up Nurmi for his first OHL goal. Nurmi, who joined London after a stint in Finland’s Liiga, demonstrated his promise with this significant contribution. However, Erie fought back, managing to score a short-handed goal late in the second period thanks to Martin Misiak, who is vying for a position with the Chicago Blackhawks organization.

As the third period unfolded, Gabe Frasca’s goal narrowed the Knights’ lead to 3-2. O’Reilly would push the score to 4-2 with a powerful wrist shot from the left circle on a power play, yet the Otters responded swiftly. In a rapid turn of events, they scored two short-handed goals within just 34 seconds, sending the match to a shootout as per pre-season rules. Despite being outshot 27-22 by the Otters, the Knights held their composure for the victory.

Gazizov Receives Rookie Camp Invitation

Meanwhile, Knights forward Ruslan Gazizov is gearing up for his opportunity at the Anaheim Ducks’ Rookie Camp. Scheduled to head to California on September 12, Gazizov aims to secure a professional contract through participation in training sessions at Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena. With three seasons under his belt with the Knights, Gazizov has accumulated an impressive 157 points in 173 games, and nearly broke the franchise record for points in a game during the last season.

Looking Ahead

The London Knights will finish their pre-season schedule with two matches against the Sarnia Sting, the first of which is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, September 20, at Budweiser Gardens. The second match will take place in Sarnia, Ontario, at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 21. Following these contests, the Knights will prepare to face the Flint Firebirds in their season opener on Friday, September 27.

Fans can catch the coverage of the games against Sarnia starting at 6:30 p.m. on 980 CFPL and the Radioplayer Canada app.

Source
globalnews.ca