- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 431,535
- Reaction score
- 44
Erie Otters' fans who headed for Erie Insurance Arena's concession stands before the first intermission of Tuesday's Ontario Hockey League playoff missed the game's key sequence of goals.
That's goals, as in three in a 31-second span.
London, on consecutive shots at Erie goaltender Charlie Burns, ended what had been scoreless action between the Western Conference semifinalists.
Easton Cowan, Landon Sim and Jacob Julien accounted for the Knights' goal binge within the period's final minute. Their prosperous stretch, combined with Austin Elliott's 23 saves in net, where why the visitors won 4-0 and claimed a commanding 3-0 advantage in the teams' best-of-seven series.
"For the first 19 minutes, I thought we had ample opportunities to get on the board," Erie coach Kris Mallette said. "But looking at the whole period, I didn't think we'd be down 3-0 at (intermission), and especially in that (amount of) time.
"A couple of mental mistakes and they just pounced. Next thing you know, you're chasing them."
Four teams have won a Robertson Cup series after they trailed 0-3, according to OHL records.
Not only must the current Otters become the fifth to accomplish that feat, but also do so against the league's best team for its 2024-25 regular season.
London, the league's reigning Cup titlist, seeks its second postseason sweep this Thursday at EIA. Play will begin at 7 p.m.
"For sure, I feel for our guys right now," Mallette said. "The (series deficit) is not from a lack of effort. That's a very good club across the hallway and they have a lot of experience in these types of situations.
"We made a few adjustments (Tuesday) that worked in our favor. But again, if you spot that team three goals, you saw the rest of the game (how) they sat back and literally waited for us to make a mistake."
The challenge of knocking off the Knights became grander even before Tuesday's opening puck drop.
Mallette started Burns because of an injury to incumbent Noah Erliden, who was scratched. Chase Furlong, a goalie for the Greater Ontario Hockey League's Stratford Warriors, was Erie's emergency backup.
Mallette's decision to start Burns carried over from last Saturday's second game at London's Canada Life Place.
Erliden departed play late in the second period of the Knights' 7-2 victory. Burns finished those minutes and all in the third.
The Knights recorded their last three goals over that span.
Kasper Halttunen's power play goal during Tuesday's game completed London's latest scoring against Burns, who made 35 saves.
Mallette wouldn't divulge if Burns will be back in net Thursday, but did offer praise after his first OHL playoff start.
"I honestly think the (final) score could have been a lot worse than it was," Mallette said.
Windsor can advance to the conference's final on Wednesday. The Spitfires took a 3-0 series advantage over the Kitchener Rangers with Monday's 6-3 road victory.
The Oshawa Generals and Kingston Frontenacs got wins for the first time after Tuesday's third games of their respective Eastern Conference series.
Oshawa defeated the top-seeded Brantford Bulldogs 7-2. The Generals' Colby Barlow scored one goal and assisted on two others.
Kingston beat the visiting Barrie Colts 5-3. The Frontenacs' Cedrick Guindon scored during a power play for one of his two goals.
Most of the Otters' picks during last weekend's OHL priority selection draft were introduced before Tuesday's game.
Those who heard the cheers from Erie's fans included center Jake Murray, the franchise's first round pick and the 12th player chosen overall.
The Otters, though, aren't done selecting players who could suit up for their 2025-26 team.
The league will conduct its under-18 draft on Wednesday. Picks will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue through three rounds.
Erie, like all 20 franchises, must choose at least two players. The Otters possess the 11th pick in the first round, the 31st in the second and the 51st in the third.
April 10: London 6, Erie 3
April 12: London 7, Erie 2
Tuesday: London 4, Erie 0 (London leads 3-0)
Thursday: London at Erie, 7 p.m.
Friday: Erie at London, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
April 20: London at Erie, 4 p.m. (if necessary)
April 22: Erie at London, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: London Knights on cusp of sweeping Erie Otters in OHL playoff series
Continue reading...
That's goals, as in three in a 31-second span.
London, on consecutive shots at Erie goaltender Charlie Burns, ended what had been scoreless action between the Western Conference semifinalists.
Easton Cowan, Landon Sim and Jacob Julien accounted for the Knights' goal binge within the period's final minute. Their prosperous stretch, combined with Austin Elliott's 23 saves in net, where why the visitors won 4-0 and claimed a commanding 3-0 advantage in the teams' best-of-seven series.
"For the first 19 minutes, I thought we had ample opportunities to get on the board," Erie coach Kris Mallette said. "But looking at the whole period, I didn't think we'd be down 3-0 at (intermission), and especially in that (amount of) time.
"A couple of mental mistakes and they just pounced. Next thing you know, you're chasing them."
You must be registered for see images attach
Four teams have won a Robertson Cup series after they trailed 0-3, according to OHL records.
Not only must the current Otters become the fifth to accomplish that feat, but also do so against the league's best team for its 2024-25 regular season.
London, the league's reigning Cup titlist, seeks its second postseason sweep this Thursday at EIA. Play will begin at 7 p.m.
"For sure, I feel for our guys right now," Mallette said. "The (series deficit) is not from a lack of effort. That's a very good club across the hallway and they have a lot of experience in these types of situations.
"We made a few adjustments (Tuesday) that worked in our favor. But again, if you spot that team three goals, you saw the rest of the game (how) they sat back and literally waited for us to make a mistake."
No Noah
The challenge of knocking off the Knights became grander even before Tuesday's opening puck drop.
Mallette started Burns because of an injury to incumbent Noah Erliden, who was scratched. Chase Furlong, a goalie for the Greater Ontario Hockey League's Stratford Warriors, was Erie's emergency backup.
Mallette's decision to start Burns carried over from last Saturday's second game at London's Canada Life Place.
Erliden departed play late in the second period of the Knights' 7-2 victory. Burns finished those minutes and all in the third.
The Knights recorded their last three goals over that span.
Kasper Halttunen's power play goal during Tuesday's game completed London's latest scoring against Burns, who made 35 saves.
Mallette wouldn't divulge if Burns will be back in net Thursday, but did offer praise after his first OHL playoff start.
"I honestly think the (final) score could have been a lot worse than it was," Mallette said.
You must be registered for see images attach
Other results
Windsor can advance to the conference's final on Wednesday. The Spitfires took a 3-0 series advantage over the Kitchener Rangers with Monday's 6-3 road victory.
The Oshawa Generals and Kingston Frontenacs got wins for the first time after Tuesday's third games of their respective Eastern Conference series.
Oshawa defeated the top-seeded Brantford Bulldogs 7-2. The Generals' Colby Barlow scored one goal and assisted on two others.
Kingston beat the visiting Barrie Colts 5-3. The Frontenacs' Cedrick Guindon scored during a power play for one of his two goals.
More due
Most of the Otters' picks during last weekend's OHL priority selection draft were introduced before Tuesday's game.
Those who heard the cheers from Erie's fans included center Jake Murray, the franchise's first round pick and the 12th player chosen overall.
The Otters, though, aren't done selecting players who could suit up for their 2025-26 team.
The league will conduct its under-18 draft on Wednesday. Picks will begin at 5:30 p.m. and continue through three rounds.
Erie, like all 20 franchises, must choose at least two players. The Otters possess the 11th pick in the first round, the 31st in the second and the 51st in the third.
You must be registered for see images attach
Series schedule
April 10: London 6, Erie 3
April 12: London 7, Erie 2
Tuesday: London 4, Erie 0 (London leads 3-0)
Thursday: London at Erie, 7 p.m.
Friday: Erie at London, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
April 20: London at Erie, 4 p.m. (if necessary)
April 22: Erie at London, 7 p.m. (if necessary)
Contact Mike Copper at [email protected]. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: London Knights on cusp of sweeping Erie Otters in OHL playoff series
Continue reading...
