Knights Split Two with Rangers

After getting past the Guelph Storm, the London Knights now find themselves battling their rivals the Kitchener Rangers in their second-round Western Conference OHL series. In Game 1, London thumped the Rangers 8-5, playing in an offensive thriller at their home ice, the John Labatt Centre. The shots on goal were even at 33. London goals were scored by: Steven Sanza, Jared Knight, Daniel Erlich (scoring twice), Nazem Kadri, Colin Martin, Chris DeSouza, and Leigh Salters. The Kitchener goals were scored by: Skinner (scoring twice), Murphy, Mackinnon, and Catenacci. The scoring all started because of a second-period incident where Nazem Kadri crashed hard into the net, and Rangers goalie Brandon Maxwell giving Kadri a frustration shove in retaliation. Earlier in the year, this would have meant a severe penalty for the Knights (especially from Nazem), but the Knights just score more goals when they face an angry opponent, and that's what they accomplished on Thursday with the 8 goals. In fact, in their last 3 games, London has 22 goals combined! This shows the talent, agility, and professionalism that the Knights must have in order to go to the Memorial Cup (which they have not played in since they hosted it in 2005 when they beat the QMJHL champs the Rimouski Oceanic - then led by current NHL superstar Sidney Crosby to win the entire event). All in all, a memorable start to what promises to be a terrific and hard-fought series. Here is the recap for Game 1: Knights vs Rangers 

Game 2 took place last night in Kitchener. This game was a far cry from the previous one, with the Rangers winning 5-2. As Nazem Kadri once played for Kitchener, he expected the jeers and boos from the Rangers fans. Well they sure came: every time Kadri was slammed into the boards or failed to make any sort of a good play. Add a win by the home team to that fact and you end up with an ugly night all around for London. Nazem DID score a goal for the Knights and would not allow the hostile crowd to shake him out of his game. Star goalie Brandon Maxwell was the difference-maker for Kitchener: stopping an incredible 39 of 41 London shots on goal. Let's face it; he HAD to after the killing the Knights had put him through in game 1! The Rangers, meanwhile, only fired 34 shot on Knights goalie Michael Hutchinson. Another key man for Kitchener was Gabriel Landeskog who scored a hat trick in the game. (This occurs when a player scores 3 goals in a game.) The other Knights goal was scored by Daniel Erlich. Kitchener's other goals were scored by: Morin and Skinner. I will now close with two lines from the official recap put up on the Knights website: "They (the Knights) don't have to win at the Aud (Kitchener's current home ice) to move on. But if they don't, they know they're in for a long haul." (The information in brackets is not contained in the actual quote.) True, very true. Here is that recap for game 2: Knights vs Rangers 


Game 3 will not be played until Monday at the JLC. Start time will be at 7 PM and as always the broadcast will be on AM 1290 CJBK. The Raptors play TODAY at 1 PM against the Philadelphia 76ers on TSN. Catch you all later!