QUEBEC CITY, P.Q. — Not playing their true game since the tournament began the London Knights dominated most of the game in a 4-1 win over the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Taking a two-goal lead in the first half of the opening period Mark Hunter’s team never looked back taking control of the game playing the kind of hockey loyal Knights fans used to see their favorite play most of the year.
Knowing they had to play much better than they did against the Shawinigan Cataractes Sunday night London gave a good indication of what their opponent should expect from Mark Hunter’s team. Being more aggressive on the puck dictating the tempo the Knights got on board first with goal scored by Ryan Rupert 1:17 into the opening period.
Taking the first two shots on Edmonton goalie Laurent Brossoit, Matt Rupert took the rebound deep in Oil Kings territory finding his brother Ryan in the slot scoring his first of the tournament.
London came back adding a second goal to their lead. After Oil Kings netminder made initial save on Knights center Chris Thierney, Bo Horvat got all time in the world taking the rebound knocking it in at 11:20.
London dominated first period not just on the scoreboard and shots on goal (14-7) but they were more aggressive dominating territorially setting the tome being all over Edmonton players.
The best Edmonton moment in the opening period came when London team was penalized twice in span of 41 seconds giving a two men advantage to the Derek Lextal team.
Even if they didn’t score on the two man advantage opportunities, the Oil Kings managed to finally get on the scoreboard. Driving to the net Edmonton defenseman Keegan Lowe (Kevin Lowe’s son) completed great play from teammates Henrik Samuelsson and Stephen Legeault cutting London lead in half with 2.6 seconds remaining.
A bad penalty taken in the offensive zone by Edmonton left winger Mitchell Moroz gave London a glorious opportunity to regain their two goal leads, but it last only 49 seconds since the Knights has been guilty for too many men on the ice.
Keegan Lowe (Kevin Lowe’s son) completed great play from teammates Henrik Samuelsson and Stephane Legeault cutting London lead in half with 2.6 seconds remaining.
London began the second period establishing their forecheck trying to continue their domination of the opening period but contrary to first period, most the action been in center ice neither teams being able to establish real great offensive charge.
As games sometime can be an inches game, crashing the net after Domi hit the post, Greg McKegg took rebound fired it in for Knights third goal 11:24 in middle frame.
Beginning the third period Edmonton missed an excellent opportunity, to come back to trail by one when London forward Matt Rupert had been guilty of checking from behind 3:23 into third period. As they did in first five preceding penalties, the Knights successfully killed the sixth one keeping their two goals lead in game.
Seeing the urgency of the situation Edmonton tried to open things up in second half of third period but London continue to take every offensive opportunity they can get but thanks to Oil Kings netminder Brossoit stand in front of OHL champion.
The final London goal came at 19:07 in an empty scored by Austin Watson.
Next game in Memorial Cup tournament will see the two QMJHL teams face each other Shawinigan as host team will face the QMJHL President Cup champion Saint John Sea Dogs.
Contact the author at: serge.poulin@prohockeynews.com
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