One shift was all the London Knights really needed.
They were gone in (almost) sixty seconds, as Seth Griffith and Bo Horvat scored 57 seconds apart to begin the second period. The Knights dictated tempo from then on, en route to a 4-1 victory in front of 8,985 at the Budweiser Gardens.
Dale Hunter put the Griffith, Horvat and Tyler Ferry line to start the middle frame. 18 seconds later, the deadlock was broken, Horvat finding Griffith who went high on Barrie netminder Mathias Niederberger's stick side.
"Back to back goals like that quick give our bench a lot of momentum," said Griffith. "We carried it throughout the whole game. In the third we let up a bit, we just got to keep it up for the whole game."
Griffith has gradually gotten back to top form, sitting at a point a game in these playoffs (7G, 9A) after missing the end of the regular season with a broken bone in his hand. The Boston Bruins prospect ensured the victory when he buried the empty net goal late in the game. He came close to bagging another empty netter, and a hattrick, when he sent the puck down the length of the ice, but was just wide.
"I saw the puck in the air and just batted it down. I felt pressure behind me," added Horvat, describing his unassisted goal, which turned out to be the game winner. "He [Barrie's Zach Hall] took me down but I'd seen the puck lying in front of me as I went down and tried to throw it on net. Fortunately, it went in."
It was Horvat's second multi point game in these playoffs. The Rodney, ON native has 14 points (10G, 4A) heading into his NHL Draft year.
The Knights spent a lot of time in the second period on the powerplay, as the Colts had trouble staying out of the box. Nine minor penalties were dished out to Barrie, which sent London on the 5 on 3 advantage twice in the second period.
“The period just turned terrible for us,” Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk said. “It was surprising, especially after we played so well in the first. We scrambled after that, trying to make things happen
in certain situations, giving up odd man situations against."
To Barrie’s credit, their penalty kill held the Knights to just one powerplay goal, scored by Brett Welychka, his first playoff goal in nearly 14 months, off a goalie interference call on ex-Knight Andreas Athanasiou.
Anthony Stolarz bounced back from a poor Game 1 performance, stopping 22 of 23 Sunday night. His bid for a shut out was ended when Athanasiou scored shorthanded in the third period while his team was killing a major penalty to Anthony Camara.
Camara was given a five-minute major for charging and game misconduct for a late hit on Max Domi and could be facing further discipline from the OHL.
“It was a hit that he wishes he could take back,” said Knights coach Dale Hunter. “I watched the replay on it, and he left his feet and he hit the head. It was one of those hits that after you do it, you realize you shouldn't have done it."
Hawerchuck didn't make any comment on the hit, saying he didn't see it.
Mathias Niederberger stopped 41 of 44 shots, 24 of which came in that second period alone. Barrie meanwhile managed a meagre four shots on net in the second.
The Knights haven’t lost twice yet in this year's playoffs. Last year, they dropped games 2 and 3 of their second-round series against the Saginaw Spirit.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to Barrie with a quick turnaround Monday night from the Molson Centre in Barrie.
--------
SUMMARY
Knights 4, Colts 1
OHL FInals tied 1-1
London goals: Seth Griffith (2), Bo Horvat, Brett Welychka
Barrie goal: Andreas Athanasiou
They were gone in (almost) sixty seconds, as Seth Griffith and Bo Horvat scored 57 seconds apart to begin the second period. The Knights dictated tempo from then on, en route to a 4-1 victory in front of 8,985 at the Budweiser Gardens.
Dale Hunter put the Griffith, Horvat and Tyler Ferry line to start the middle frame. 18 seconds later, the deadlock was broken, Horvat finding Griffith who went high on Barrie netminder Mathias Niederberger's stick side.
"Back to back goals like that quick give our bench a lot of momentum," said Griffith. "We carried it throughout the whole game. In the third we let up a bit, we just got to keep it up for the whole game."
Griffith has gradually gotten back to top form, sitting at a point a game in these playoffs (7G, 9A) after missing the end of the regular season with a broken bone in his hand. The Boston Bruins prospect ensured the victory when he buried the empty net goal late in the game. He came close to bagging another empty netter, and a hattrick, when he sent the puck down the length of the ice, but was just wide.
"I saw the puck in the air and just batted it down. I felt pressure behind me," added Horvat, describing his unassisted goal, which turned out to be the game winner. "He [Barrie's Zach Hall] took me down but I'd seen the puck lying in front of me as I went down and tried to throw it on net. Fortunately, it went in."
It was Horvat's second multi point game in these playoffs. The Rodney, ON native has 14 points (10G, 4A) heading into his NHL Draft year.
The Knights spent a lot of time in the second period on the powerplay, as the Colts had trouble staying out of the box. Nine minor penalties were dished out to Barrie, which sent London on the 5 on 3 advantage twice in the second period.
“The period just turned terrible for us,” Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk said. “It was surprising, especially after we played so well in the first. We scrambled after that, trying to make things happen
in certain situations, giving up odd man situations against."
To Barrie’s credit, their penalty kill held the Knights to just one powerplay goal, scored by Brett Welychka, his first playoff goal in nearly 14 months, off a goalie interference call on ex-Knight Andreas Athanasiou.
Anthony Stolarz bounced back from a poor Game 1 performance, stopping 22 of 23 Sunday night. His bid for a shut out was ended when Athanasiou scored shorthanded in the third period while his team was killing a major penalty to Anthony Camara.
Camara was given a five-minute major for charging and game misconduct for a late hit on Max Domi and could be facing further discipline from the OHL.
“It was a hit that he wishes he could take back,” said Knights coach Dale Hunter. “I watched the replay on it, and he left his feet and he hit the head. It was one of those hits that after you do it, you realize you shouldn't have done it."
Hawerchuck didn't make any comment on the hit, saying he didn't see it.
Mathias Niederberger stopped 41 of 44 shots, 24 of which came in that second period alone. Barrie meanwhile managed a meagre four shots on net in the second.
The Knights haven’t lost twice yet in this year's playoffs. Last year, they dropped games 2 and 3 of their second-round series against the Saginaw Spirit.
The best-of-seven series now shifts to Barrie with a quick turnaround Monday night from the Molson Centre in Barrie.
--------
SUMMARY
Knights 4, Colts 1
OHL FInals tied 1-1
London goals: Seth Griffith (2), Bo Horvat, Brett Welychka
Barrie goal: Andreas Athanasiou
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