Friday night, the London Knights extended their winning streak to 13 games. Kasper Halttunen and Oliver Bonk scored in the final two minutes of the game to force overtime before Jacob Julien potted home the shootout winner, as the Knights narrowly edged past the Owen Sound Attack with a 4-3 shootout victory.
Easton Cowan extended his regular-season point streak to 53 games with two assists and scored on his shootout attempt.
Easton Cowan scored a shootout goal and had two assists against Owen Sound on Friday. Been playing center. Unofficial regular-season point streak is now at 53 games.
Another example of his signature move (see thread for more).
Totals (OHL): 17 GP, 14 G, 24 PTS, +10, 49.5% FOW pic.twitter.com/yTdjAYFzua
— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) November 23, 2024
Currently, London is tied for first in the OHL overall standings with the Windsor Spitfires, both having 34 points. However, London boasts the highest win percentage at .810%, with an impressive record of 17-4-0-0 in 21 games.
During their current win streak, they have had to overcome some strong opponents, such as the Kitchener Rangers, Erie Otters, and Saginaw Spirit. Their last loss came over a month ago, on Oct. 18, against Saginaw.
Related: London Knights Make Changes To Overage Group; Trade For Former WHL Goaltender
We’re a quarter of the way through the OHL season, and the haves and have-nots are starting to take shape. We ask the question, are the London Knights destined to go back-to-back and win their second consecutive OHL championship?
Powerplay Dominance
The similarities between last year’s team and this year’s are almost identical. London had the best powerplay percentage (32.6%) at the end of the regular season in 2023-24, and it was even more dynamic in the playoffs (36.9%).
Once again, their powerplay is helping them win games, as they have a league-leading 29.2% percentage on the man advantage this season. San Jose Sharks 2024 first-rounder Sam Dickinson leads the team with seven powerplay markers and a matching seven powerplay assists.
Another interesting fact about London’s powerplay production this season is that they have had 12 players score on the powerplay, which is the most in the OHL.
Related: Sam Dickinson Is A Future Top Pairing Defenseman; Models His Game After Miro Heiskanen
Defense Wins Championships
Last season, the Knights excelled defensively, averaging 28.2 shots against per game, boasting the league’s best penalty kill at 85%, and allowing the fewest goals (197). The team had a big and mobile top-four defense core consisting of Sam Dickinson, Oliver Bonk, Isaiah George, and Jackson Edward.
The team lost George and Edward as they graduated and moved on to play in the AHL, but the Knights’ top two defensemen, Sam Dickinson and Oliver Bonk, remain and are leading the defensive charge along the blueline.
Dickinson is showing why he should’ve been a top-10 pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. The Sharks absolutely stole him at pick No. 11. He leads the league in goals (12) by a defenseman and is tied with Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Marrelli with 32 points.
Go further down the lineup and look at the development strides Henry Brzustewicz and LA Kings prospect Jared Woolley have taken this season. Both have looked far more confident making plays with the puck at both ends of the rink.
London’s defense core once again has the size and physicality element, but they are also mobile, transition pucks up ice on breakouts with ease, and create/extend offensive plays to muster up chances.
Related: Chicago Blackhawks Prospect Showcasing His Tremendous Goal-Scoring Prowess
Future NHL Star Power
It’s no secret that the London Knights organization is known to be one of the best at developing future NHL players. Just look at the long list of alumni that have come out of London. And this season, they have the most NHL-affiliated prospects in the league.
London already had nine NHL-drafted players (not including Landon Sim, who wasn’t signed by St. Louis) on their roster before adding Ottawa Senators prospect Blake Montgomery and getting back their leading goal-scorer from the 2024 playoffs, Kasper Halttunen.
Last night against Owen Sound their lines were as follows:
Cowan (TOR) – Barkey (PHI) – Halttunen (SJ)
Nurmi (NYI) – Julien (WPG) – Montgomery (OTT)
Hawery – Sim – O’Reilly (EDM)
Read – Nicholl (EDM) – Van Gorp
Woolley (LA) – Bonk (PHI)
Dickinson (SJ) – Brzustewicz
Jenken – Spencer
You know you have a stacked team when you have a first-rounder playing on the third line and another NHL prospect on the fourth line.
The talent the Knights have on their roster is hard to match. Only the Oshawa Generals and Barrie Colts are close to matching their star power.
Also, keep in mind the amount of returning players who were the team’s best players from last year’s championship-winning roster. Usually, you would see a good portion of those players move on, but the Knights are lucky, and these players are still around and ready to win another OHL Championship.
Related: Anaheim Third-Overall Pick Stays Hot In Shootout Win Over Ottawa
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