Dylan Myskiw making a glove save against the Kitchener Rangers.
(Courtesy: Matt Hiscox)
The London Knights maintained their torrent pace over the weekend, picking up wins in all three of their games.
Thursday – @ Mississauga (W 5-2)
The Steelheads aren’t necessarily an OHL powerhouse. They came into Thursday’s game against London with a 7-12-1-0 record. Mississauga came out firing against the Knights though, going up 2-0 midway through the first period. Ryan Merkley scored a crucial goal later in the opening period to make it a one-goal game after 20.
Then, the NHL draft picks took over.
Liam Foudy (Columbus) notched his ninth of the season to tie the game early in the second. Ryan Merkley (San Jose) found the back of the net with four seconds remaining in the period to take the lead.
Foudy and Alec Regula (Chicago) both found twine in the third period. Connor McMichael (Washington) picked up three assists in the win. Jonathan Gruden (Ottawa) and Hunter Skinner (New York Rangers) both had an assist. Regula finished with a goal and two helpers; Foudy had two goals and two assists.
Friday – @ Kitchener (W 5-1)
The Knights continued their recent dominance over the Kitchener Rangers, defeating them for the ninth consecutive time. It was also London’s second win over Kitchener in less than a week.
After three assists against Mississauga the night prior, Connor McMichael outdid himself on Friday against the Rangers. The OHL’s leading scorer continued his torrent pace, scoring a hat trick and adding an assist. The hat trick was McMichael’s third of the season – the second on his current 14-game point streak.
Brett Brochu made 32 saves in the London cage, picking up his seventh win of the season.
Sunday – @ Erie (W 4-0)
The Knights and Otters had already engaged in a pair of games that saw at least 10 goals scored this season. The Knights were quick to fix their defensive woes, helping Dylan Myskiw pick up his first OHL shutout.
London was certainly opportunistic against the Otters. All four of their goals occurred within a seven-minute span in the second period. Antonio Stranges, Billy Moskal, Jonathan Gruden, and Liam Foudy all found twine in the frame. Dylan Myskiw made 26 saves in the cage.
Three Stars of the Weekend
Connor McMichael – eight points
Vs Mississauga: 3a
Vs Kitchener: 3g, 1a
Vs Erie: 1a
Liam Foudy – seven points
Vs Mississauga: 2g, 2a
Vs Kitchener: 1a
Vs Erie: 1g, 1a
Dylan Myskiw – Two wins, one shutout (first in OHL)
Vs Mississauga: 30/32 saves
Vs Erie: 26/26 saves
Paputsakis, Myskiw and MacKay are Sunday’s #OHL Three Stars
PERFORMANCE RECAP
: https://t.co/DRyJltovtj pic.twitter.com/kgZNCKVkgR
– OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) November 25, 2019
Honourable mention: Ryan Merkley: 2g, 5a this weekend
It was about as perfect as a weekend set that could have been drawn up. Three road games, three wins – all while giving up just three goals. A weekend set as such would normally bode well for a team’s standings.
The Windsor Spitfires, however, are equally as hot. Windsor has picked up points in 13 straight contests. They lead London by three points atop the Western Conference standings. The two will go toe-to-toe on Friday at Budweiser Gardens.
