Knights Rookies hit the Scoreboard

Coming off the announcement that captain Scott Harrington was also to captain Team OHL in the Sarnia stop of the Subway Series, the London Knights entered a 3-in-3 weekend having won two straight.  Coming up were Sudbury, Plymouth and finally the Soo Greyhounds on Remembrance Day.  At the end of the weekend, the Knights had fashioned a 5 game win streak and had more than a few exclamation marks.

Against the Wolves, Jake Patterson had less than half a period to go before Brody Silk broke his shut-out bid. Another stellar game by last year’s snake-bitten goalie was supported by rookies Jacob Jammes (himself a victim of injury earlier in the season) and Corey Pawley scoring their first OHL goals. Knights scoring was rounded out by Seth Griffith and Matt Rupert.

Off on a road trip to Plymouth, Kevin Bailie, the supposed incumbent at the beginning of the year, put up a shut-out of his own.  The dilemma in goal is one that hasn’t been seen here since the Memorial Cup team of ’05. I’m sure the Hunters are all too happy to have these woes in net.  In a game dominated by special teams play, the Knights’ dormant power play suddenly came to life with 4 goals on 9 attempts. Matt Rupert showed the hot hand with a natural hat trick, while Seth Griffith increased his team lead in points, adding 3 assists.

The Sunday afternoon finish to the weekend was delayed by a great Remembrance Day ceremony to start the game. Sault Ste. Marie came into the finale having lost the two games on the front end of the weekend and were looking to try to salvage some points.  A chippy game was tied 1-1 after the first period on a PP goal from Colin Miller that Nikita Zadorov responded to not 30 seconds later. With his first OHL goal, Zadorov, all six Knight rookies have hit the goal column this season.

Max Domi continues to excite, adding 3 points to his totals and redeeming himself after two straight minor penalties, by scoring a breakaway goal shortly after exiting the box on the second infraction. Josh Anderson would complete the scoring for the Knights, who would come away with their 5th victory in a row on the back of another solid game by Patterson.

The goaltending has been strong recently with either Bailie or Patterson in net.  The rookies have also started to make their mark, continuing the Knights’ pattern of grooming their core early. And maybe, just maybe, the powerplay has found its way.   It looks like many of the question marks from the start of the season are beginning to be answered.