The comeback team: Knights head to second round of OHL playoffs
After a tough battle between the Windsor Spitfires, the London Knights have moved on to the second round of the western conference of the OHL playoffs.
After winning the Memorial Cup in 2016, the Knights are eyeing a back-to-back playoffs win, but faced a tough first round playing neck and neck with the Spitfires that went into game seven of a seven game series.
By losing games one, three and four, the Knights hadn't won a playoff game until March 26, the second game of the series.
The Knights pulled through by winning the fifth and sixth game on March 31 and April 2 to tie the series.
With each team winning three games, the Knights needed to win the final game against the Spitfires in order to clinch a spot in the second leg of the playoffs. They did just that winning 3-2 on April 4.
Collectively, the team played extremely well, with Knights' goaltender Tyler Parsons being an outstanding player and overall adding to keep the team ahead.
Through thick and thin, Parsons played all seven games in the first round.
Other top players include Janne Kuokkanen, Mitchell Stephens, Max Jones and Olli Juolevi who scored the game-winning goal in game seven. Victor Mete, Cliff Pu and Robert Thomas were other notable players.
The Knights now play the Erie Otters in the second round beginning on April 6 in Erie.
Game two (April 7), five (April 15) and potential seven (April 18) would also be played in Erie. Game three (April 11), four (April 13) and six (April 16) will be played at Budweiser Gardens.
Though the Spitfires were eliminated from the playoffs, Windsor will host the Memorial Cup in May.
After winning the Memorial Cup in 2016, the Knights are eyeing a back-to-back playoffs win, but faced a tough first round playing neck and neck with the Spitfires that went into game seven of a seven game series.
By losing games one, three and four, the Knights hadn't won a playoff game until March 26, the second game of the series.
The Knights pulled through by winning the fifth and sixth game on March 31 and April 2 to tie the series.
With each team winning three games, the Knights needed to win the final game against the Spitfires in order to clinch a spot in the second leg of the playoffs. They did just that winning 3-2 on April 4.
Collectively, the team played extremely well, with Knights' goaltender Tyler Parsons being an outstanding player and overall adding to keep the team ahead.
Through thick and thin, Parsons played all seven games in the first round.
Other top players include Janne Kuokkanen, Mitchell Stephens, Max Jones and Olli Juolevi who scored the game-winning goal in game seven. Victor Mete, Cliff Pu and Robert Thomas were other notable players.
The Knights now play the Erie Otters in the second round beginning on April 6 in Erie.
Game two (April 7), five (April 15) and potential seven (April 18) would also be played in Erie. Game three (April 11), four (April 13) and six (April 16) will be played at Budweiser Gardens.
Though the Spitfires were eliminated from the playoffs, Windsor will host the Memorial Cup in May.
