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| Barrie Colts forward Andreas Athanasiou |
For ex-Knights' forward Andreas Athanasiou, it's been a series to remember so far. The Detroit Red Wings fourth round pick in 2012 is the only player to register goals in all three games so far this series.
He's gone from being another Knights' alumni, to major concern for Dale Hunter and his troops.
"It's great to see him doing well," said sophomore Knights' forward Bo Horvat. "We played with him last year but that's the past. Right now he's just another player on their team and we want to stop him."
Stop him they need to. Athanasiou has three points this series, all goals, two of them coming at the arena he once called home, the Budweiser Gardens. Along with Mark Scheifele, Athanasiou is fast propelling the Colts to their first OHL title since the 1999/2000 season.
London effectively utilized home ice advantage and last change, to effectively shut down Scheifele. The 2011 Winnipeg Jets first rounder was at his stellar best when the Colts had last change Monday evening, not having to play against London's shut down line. He finished with 2 goals, and 3 assists that night, his second multi goal game of these playoffs.
"Everyone was working their hardest," said Scheifele. "Everyone was creating chances I think. That pulled of pressure of everyone giving us time to relax and make the play we want."
“We weren't too sharp,” added London's versatile utility man Tyler Ferry. “Next game, we don't have last change and we're going to work as a group and collectively shut them down. (We) just got to get up for the challenge."
For London, game four is a challenge.
For Barrie, it's a chance to pile pressure on London like never before.
The last time the Knights faced elimination from the OHL playoffs was over two years ago, on April 3, 2011, when the Owen Sound Attack beat the Knights in six games en route to thier first OHL title.
Puck drop Wednesday evening from the Barrie Molson Centre is 7:35pm.
Image Credit: Yahoo Sports.
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