Knight Watch: Rested and ready for full weekend

With three games in three days this weekend, the Knights will look to shake off the rust early and make up ground in the West. Columnist Jake Jeffrey has the latest news, notes and numbers.

(Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

After no games last weekend, a well-rested London team gets set for three in less than 48 hours.

The Knights have enjoyed previous success this year against all three of their weekend foes — although the Windsor Spitfires have been one of the OHL’s hottest teams recently, and have one of the league’s top players in Wyatt Johnston (24-44--68). Windsor now finds themselves in the thick of things in what has been a relatively competitive Western Conference, chasing the Soo Greyhounds and Flint Firebirds (the Knights, though they’ve played the fewest games, still have the highest winning percentage heading into the weekend).

Meanwhile, even though the season series against Owen Sound and Kitchener have been one-sided in London’s favour, neither team will be easy points, as both squads are jostling for playoff positions in the Conference.

Five hundred (500) fans will be in attendance for London’s home games Friday and Saturday. The team held a draw among season ticket holders earlier this week to determine the select few who will attend the games while current provincial restrictions remain in place. It’s a far cry from a 9,000-fan sellout crowd, but it’s a definite improvement from the zero fans that have been allowed during the Knights’ recent home games. Considering the number of postponements London has dealt with this season, the players are likely just eager to play games — fans or no.

This weekend kicks off a busy month of February that will see London play at least 13 games, with the potential for more if the league is able to squeeze in some postponed games.

So, it’s fitting that a busy weekend kicks off a busy month. Here’s what the Knights are facing ...

Sean McGurn, one of three Knights players averaging more than a point per game this season, has racked up 12 of them in four games against Kitchener. (Photo: Matt Hiscox Photography).

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UPCOMING GAMEDAYS

Friday (Feb. 4, 7:00pm) vs. Windsor Spitfires (21-11-2-2)

The Spitfires have been one of the OHL’s hottest teams, winning 13 of their last 16 contests dating back to early December. That run includes a victory over London, their lone win over the Knights in four tries this season. A big reason for Windsor’s success? Dallas Stars prospect Wyatt Johnston, who comes into Friday night red hot with 11 goals and 32 points over his last 14 games. Since being acquired from London, Matthias Onuska has a pair of wins in the Windsor net.

Saturday (Feb. 5, 4:00pm) vs. Kitchener Rangers (16-17-1-1) (Kitchener hosts Flint on Friday)

All four meetings between these two teams this season have gone London’s way, but you can never count out a team with something to play for — especially with a built-in rivalry between the Knights and Rangers. The trio of Sean McGurn (6-9--12), Luke Evangelista (3-8--11) and Antonio Stranges (5-5--10) have picked apart Kitchener in their previous meetings, while no Rangers player has notched more than one goal against the Knights. Averaging 12.1 penalty minutes per game, Kitchener is the third-most penalized team in the OHL.

Sunday (Feb. 6, 7:00pm) @ Owen Sound Attack (17-16-1-2) (the Attack play Guelph Friday/Saturday)

There is no easy trip to the Bayshore, and that will likely prove to be the case this weekend. Although a rested bunch, it will be London’s third game in as many days, and facing a tough Owen Sound team doesn’t lighten the load. Although the Knights are six-for-six in their matchups against the Attack this season, all have been close contests. Evangelista has scored eight goals against the Attack, with several coming at very opportune times. On the Owen Sound side, Deni Gourde leads the team in points, and he has three goals and three assists against London this season.

A LOOK AT THE LOCALS

Marcus Vandenburg made his OHL debut for the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday, making 11 saves after coming into the game for injured starter Jackson Parsons, helping the Rangers hang on to a 3-2 win over Owen Sound (earning third star honours in the process).

Mississauga and North Bay have both featured locals in their lineups this season, and they came to play on January 27. Former Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs teammates Owen Van Steensel (North Bay) and Zander Veccia (Mississauga) both picked up assists, while London Jr. Knights graduate Aidan Prueter also had an assist for the Steelheads.

KNIGHTS BY THE NUMBERS

Through the first 16 games of the season, London only had one goal from a defenseman. In the 16 games since, they’ve had 12.

Evangelista has put up many impressive stats this season, including his plus-24 rating, which is fourth in the league behind a trio of Mississauga Steelheads.

London will look to build on their recent success over Windsor, Kitchener, and Owen Sound, with a combined 13-1 record against the three this season.

Including the four that will need to be rescheduled, the Knights have 17 home games remaining on the regular season schedule, which is supposed to end April 3 — although an extension is very likely.