Night of hockey in London
Hockey is back in full force as
we prepare for another great season
of minor and professional hockey.
Londoners were treated on September
22 to an epic matchup at Budweiser
Gardens with the Toronto
Maple Leafs taking on the Philadelphia
Flyers in preseason action. As
a fan of the good ol’ hockey game, I
can truly say that this was an event
for the ages.
While the game didn’t feature the star-studded lineup fans are accustomed to at the Air Canada Centre, there were still many familiar faces. The starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers was former London Knights goalie Anthony Stolarz. Joining him on the ice as Knights alum were forwards Nazem Kadri, Zac Rinaldo and Greg McKegg.
Fireworks got underway early with Frazier McLaren and Zack Stortini “puttin’ on the foil” and dropping the gloves in first five minutes. The Leafs and Flyers traded multiple chances throughout the first but to no avail. Just after the start of the second period, Tyler Biggs was sent streaking down the wing and rattled a snap shot off the end boards that put the Flyers on a three-on-two rush going the other way. Matt Read finished off the opportunity to put the Flyers up 1-0. Later in the second, a neutral zone turnover sprung Michael Raffl who scored on a sweet backhand to put Philly up 2-0.
But the relentless Leafs kept battling on. Former Knight Nazem Kadri put the Leafs on the board with a hard working goal from a scrum in front of the Flyers net just before the end of the second period. An early power play in the third saw Kadri feed defenseman Tom Nilsson in the slot for the equalizer. After both teams came close to ending it in overtime, the game went to a shootout. The goalies traded saves on the first five shooters before David Booth ended the game with a slick wrist shot over the blocker of Stolarz to give the Leafs a 3-2 victory. The three stars of the game were Booth, Kadri, Stolarz. It was a classy move by Philadelphia management to allow Stolarz to play the entire game; something that goalies are not accustomed to early on in preseason play.
If this game was any indication of the season the Leafs have in store, we should be in for an entertaining season. Both teams were not afraid to drop the gloves and throw their weight around; while Toronto miraculously outshot their opponent for once. The Leafs open their season October 8 at home against the rivalled Montreal Canadiens.
The hockey entertainment doesn’t stop with just this one game. The London Knights opened their season this past weekend and play host to the Kitchener Rangers on October 3.
After that, Hometown Hockey featuring Ron MacLean will be starting its nationwide tour in our hometown on October 11 to 12. Hockey fans will have the opportunity to meet NHL Alumni, local hockey heroes and join in on a variety of hockey-themed activities.
Finally, one last date to mark on your calendar is October 15, when top NHL Draft prospect Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters come to town to take on the Knights.
In the words of the great Reggie Dunlop, “Ok boys. Show us what you got!”
While the game didn’t feature the star-studded lineup fans are accustomed to at the Air Canada Centre, there were still many familiar faces. The starting goaltender for the Philadelphia Flyers was former London Knights goalie Anthony Stolarz. Joining him on the ice as Knights alum were forwards Nazem Kadri, Zac Rinaldo and Greg McKegg.
Fireworks got underway early with Frazier McLaren and Zack Stortini “puttin’ on the foil” and dropping the gloves in first five minutes. The Leafs and Flyers traded multiple chances throughout the first but to no avail. Just after the start of the second period, Tyler Biggs was sent streaking down the wing and rattled a snap shot off the end boards that put the Flyers on a three-on-two rush going the other way. Matt Read finished off the opportunity to put the Flyers up 1-0. Later in the second, a neutral zone turnover sprung Michael Raffl who scored on a sweet backhand to put Philly up 2-0.
But the relentless Leafs kept battling on. Former Knight Nazem Kadri put the Leafs on the board with a hard working goal from a scrum in front of the Flyers net just before the end of the second period. An early power play in the third saw Kadri feed defenseman Tom Nilsson in the slot for the equalizer. After both teams came close to ending it in overtime, the game went to a shootout. The goalies traded saves on the first five shooters before David Booth ended the game with a slick wrist shot over the blocker of Stolarz to give the Leafs a 3-2 victory. The three stars of the game were Booth, Kadri, Stolarz. It was a classy move by Philadelphia management to allow Stolarz to play the entire game; something that goalies are not accustomed to early on in preseason play.
If this game was any indication of the season the Leafs have in store, we should be in for an entertaining season. Both teams were not afraid to drop the gloves and throw their weight around; while Toronto miraculously outshot their opponent for once. The Leafs open their season October 8 at home against the rivalled Montreal Canadiens.
The hockey entertainment doesn’t stop with just this one game. The London Knights opened their season this past weekend and play host to the Kitchener Rangers on October 3.
After that, Hometown Hockey featuring Ron MacLean will be starting its nationwide tour in our hometown on October 11 to 12. Hockey fans will have the opportunity to meet NHL Alumni, local hockey heroes and join in on a variety of hockey-themed activities.
Finally, one last date to mark on your calendar is October 15, when top NHL Draft prospect Connor McDavid and the Erie Otters come to town to take on the Knights.
In the words of the great Reggie Dunlop, “Ok boys. Show us what you got!”
