CREDIT: CLAUS ANDERSON/ GETTY IMAGES
Mitch Marner has been a crucial factor in the Knights' success this season with 86 points on the season at the time of print.

With a playoff spot under their belt and a second place position in their division, Knights’ head coach Dale Hunter reflected his confidence in his team, with playoffs just around the corner.

“It feels good. We’ve got to take it game by game but it’s nice knowing the ball is back in our court and the pressure is back on them,” Hunter said.

In regards to who the Knights anticipate to face in the playoffs, Hunter admitted it was too soon to tell, but emphasized the Knights’ mentality of taking it “game by game”.

Taking a look back to last season, the Knights’ 2015-playoff run was interrupted by the Erie Otters who defeated the Knights out in four games straight.

On Feb. 10 however, the Knights defeated the Otters 4-1 for an onroad victory.

Hunter attributed that win to the Knights’ effort to better control their loose pucks. “The reason we won is because we limited our turnovers… they’re high offence guys who feed mistakes.”

Hunter also reflected on Knights’ third star of the game, Mitchell Marner, and his leadership ability on the ice. “He’s arguably one of the best players in the league, if not the country. He came through really big for us when we weren’t getting much going. And with his late goals he really sparked us offensively.”

The Knights (38-11), along with the first place Erie Otters (41-9) and the third place Kitchener Rangers (36-10) are the only three teams league-wide to secure a spot in the upcoming OHL playoffs.

The game that cemented their playoff spot was Friday the 13th against the Niagara Ice Dogs, who are currently third in the Central Division.

Defeating the team would move the Knights from third place into second in the Midwest Division, contingent on a Kitchener Rangers loss to the Flint Firebirds.

The results of both games proved to be in favour of the London team. The Knights were able to defeat the Ice Dogs in a 3-1 victory, while the Rangers suffered a 3-2 loss to the Firebirds, moving the Knights into second.

In the contest against the Ice Dogs, both teams had a slow start as a total of only 12 shots were registered in the first period of play. With about 35 seconds left in the first, Ice Dogs’ winger Brendan Perlini slipped one by Knight’s goaltender Brendan Burke, making it 1-0.

Burke was able to redeem himself by robbing the Ice Dogs on two golden opportunities in the second period, while stopping 20 out of 21 shots over the course of the game.

Just seconds into the third, Knight’s alternative captain Marner put home a dazzling backhander, as he danced his way through Niagara’s defensive zone, and wrapped it right past the goalie.

About four minutes later, Marner received a drop pass from Knight’s defenseman Olli Juolevi, lighting the lamp for a second time to put the Knights in the lead, 2-1.

After a well fought third period, Knight’s forward Owen MacDonald put the nail in the coffin by adding an empty netter with 38 seconds left, assisted by Marner.

Although it is soon to tell, whoever the Knight’s do face off against will have a tough time stopping Marner, who currently lies in third place for the OHL’s best players, with 86 points on the season thus far.