The London Knights improved to 19-0-0-2 of their previous 21 video games as they defeated the Flint Firebirds 9-2 on the Dort Monetary Centre in mid-Michigan on Feb. 7.
Ruslan Gazizov led the way in which with three objectives that included a between-the-legs end to finish his second profession hat trick. Gazizov now has 24 objectives on the yr. Gazizov additionally recorded two assists within the sport.
London scored 4 of their objectives within the second interval in a span of simply two minutes and 55 seconds.
Easton Cowan scored the fourth objective of that quartet to increase his level streak to 19 video games. That ties the Maple Leafs prospect with Anthony Romani of the North Bay Battalion for the longest scoring streak within the OHL this season.
The groups truly performed it tight early on as they mixed for only one shot within the first seven minutes and 57 seconds.
Gazizov broke a scoreless tie at 15:18 of the opening interval as Isaiah George minimize in from the left level and bought the puck to the entrance of the online the place Gazizov discovered it and was capable of get to his backhand and slide the puck beneath Flint goalie Nathan Day to make it 1-0 by means of the primary 20 minutes of the sport.
The Firebirds tied the sport 1-1 as Nathan Aspinall discovered a puck in a scrum in entrance and scored at 3:51 of the second interval.
It took simply 53 seconds for the Knights to retake the lead.
An Alec Leonard shot from the correct level was deflected by Landon Sim and whereas Day bought a bit of it, the puck managed to roll throughout the objective line for a 2-1 London lead.
Kaleb Lawrence kicked off the four-goal surge at 12:30 of the second interval along with his thirteenth objective of the yr.
Gazizov snapped residence his second of the night time at 13:34 after which, 25 seconds later, Gazizov was arrange by Henry Brzustewicz and Denver Barkey and went to the online the place he put his stick between his legs and lifted a shot beneath the crossbar and instantly it was 5-1 for the Knights.
Cowan adopted that objective with considered one of his personal at 15:25 of the center interval to increase his streak and London led 6-1 heading to the ultimate 20 minutes.
Oliver Bonk related on a go from Cowan for his nineteenth objective of the yr on the Knights first energy play early within the third interval and Max McCue made it 8-1 for London on the Knights second energy play.
Nolan Dann of the Firebirds scored to chop into the London lead at 11:03 of the third interval after which Gazizov recorded his fifth level of the night time as he arrange Barkey for his twenty seventh objective of the season. Barkey ended the sport with a objective and two assists.
George had three assists. Halttunen, Leonard and Sam Dickinson all had a pair of helpers.
Michael Simpson earned his league-leading twenty fourth victory and regardless of solely going through 25 pictures, he got here up massive within the London crease a number of instances.
Flint truly outshot the Knights 25-24.
London’s energy play was 2-for-3.
The Firebirds went 0-for-4.
Owen Willmore honoured
Owen Willmore of the Knights has been named the OHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending Feb. 4, 2024. Willmore is from St. Thomas, Ont., and has performed an enormous function in London’s latest 18-0-0-2 run. He has appeared in eight video games throughout the Knights streak and has compiled an 8-0-1 report in tandem with Michael Simpson’s 10-0-1 report.
Willmore started the week along with his first Ontario Hockey League shutout in a 4-0 victory in Kitchener after which stopped 19 of twenty-two pictures in opposition to the Erie Otters and made 24 saves on 27 pictures in Owen Sound in a 4-3 shootout win as London got here again from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Assault.
Up subsequent
The Knights will face the Windsor Spitfires on Friday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., at Budweiser Gardens.
London and Windsor nonetheless have 4 extra video games in opposition to one another earlier than the top of the common season.
Up to now the Knights have received 10-7 and 6-2 in video games performed on the WFCU Centre.
That is their first residence sport in opposition to the Spitfires.
Protection will start at 6:30 p.m., on 980 CFPL, at www.980cfpl.ca and on the Radioplayer Canada app.
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