CREDIT: CLAUS ANDERSON/ GETTY IMAGES
On Thursday, Nov. 19, the Knights took on the Oshawa Generals and won 5-20

On Thursday, Nov. 19 the London Knights defeated the Oshawa Generals 5-2, with all goals scored by different players. The final goal of the game was scored by right winger JJ Piccinich in the last minute of play, on Oshawa’s empty net. However, Piccinich said he isn’t really concerned with scoring goals.

“It’s nice to get them, but you know, that’s not my focus. Obviously there [are] things I can tidy up personally in my game that I’m worrying about. I’m not hootin’ and hollerin’ in the locker room that I got an empty net goal.”

He added that he was just looking forward to the next game, and that he would like to do a better job of sustaining offensive pressure and getting the puck out to the offensive zone from the defense.

On Nov. 20, the Knights were back at Budweiser Gardens to face the division opponent Kitchener Rangers and suffered a 4-2 loss. Right winger Aaron Berisha scored London’s first goal on a power play in the second period, and centre Mitchell Marner scored their second goal in the third period.

Berisha said that he felt that they didn’t start strong.

“We just weren’t ready to go in the first 20 [minutes] there, and they got a couple quick ones on us. But nothing we can really do about it, we just got to forget about that game and move on.”

He added that they have to remember not to take anyone in the league lightly, and have to be ready as soon as the game starts as opposed to waiting for the second period to get their momentum.

Left winger Max Jones had a similar take on the game, saying that the team started slow but felt they dominated the rest of the game.

“You’ve got to play every single period, and one mishap can just ruin the game, so obviously we learned from our mistakes.”

He added that since this loss was still early in the season, the experience will allow them to come back stronger next time.

This was a low scoring game compared to others in recent weeks, but Mitchell Marner said that it wasn’t from a lack of trying.

“We played really good in the second and third, and I was happy how we came off from the first… Everyone’s putting pucks on net, [but] goalies are making good saves. We’re getting guys in front. Sometimes the bounce goes your way, sometimes it doesn’t. You can’t do anything about it.”

He added that they’ll be better prepared next time.

“We know what these teams are now going to bring, and how you got to force against them and play against them, and that’s how we’ve gotta come out.”

The team then travelled to Mississauga on the 22nd to face the Steelheads, and came home with a 9-4 victory. Left winger Matthew Tkachuk secured himself a hat trick, with a goal in each period. And while the weekend included plenty of penalty minutes for roughing, they managed to keep the fights out of their game.