London Knights 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 6)

[zman77]

London Knights win game, lose star goalie, take 2-0 series lead​

But it’s London holding its breath now while waiting for a medical update on injured star goaltender Brett Brochu after a 3-1, Game 2 victory before 9,036 Sunday afternoon at Budweiser Gardens.
The 20-year-old limped off the ice with 3:35 left in the second period of a scoreless contest. He fell awkwardly after drifting back into the post, tweaked something in his leg and slammed his blocker onto the ice in pain and frustration.
The Knights weren’t sure immediately after the game the severity of his ailment or if it will keep him out for an extended period of time. But they did share that it was not related to his previous ankle injury that inhibited him during the playoffs last season.
“The doctors will take a look at him and assess it,” London associate GM Rob Simpson said. “It’s too early to tell and hopefully, we’ll have more answers on Monday.”
Brochu has played some record-breaking hockey in the past month. He is 9-1 with a 1.48 goals against average and a .943 save percentage in these playoffs.
Rookie Zach Bowen came on in relief, stopped eight of nine Sarnia shots, and earned the win when Logan Mailloux’s seeing-eye shot on the man advantage with 3:32 left in regulation put the Knights ahead for good.

London Knights win game, lose star goalie, take 2-0 series lead

The Knights held high-octane Sarnia to a pair of goals in the first two games of the OHL’s Western Conference final.

lfpress.com

 

[dmead]

No kidding. The fact that a goalie that stopped 8/9 shots got the third star is a real head scratcher. Even Brochu had a shutout going through almost 40 mins after stopping 18/18. Who was high as a kite when they picked the 3rd star? lol

I think it was recognition of a rookie rising to the occasion in a pressure cooker. He did make some excellent saves when Sarnia started pressing. Deserving of a game star, what the hell does it matter?

Think of as Londons response to "Benny, Benny" evrty time Gaudreau makes a save. I would love to see a replay of that second period "goal that didnt happen". The whole building was gobsmacked it didnt go in, but I dont think Gaudreau touched it, couldnt really tell from my angle.

 

[PhlyerPhanatic31]

I think it was recognition of a rookie rising to the occasion in a pressure cooker. He did make some excellent saves when Sarnia started pressing. Deserving of a game star, what the hell does it matter?

Think of as Londons response to "Benny, Benny" evrty time Gaudreau makes a save. I would love to see a replay of that second period "goal that didnt happen". The whole building was gobsmacked it didnt go in, but I dont think Gaudreau touched it, couldnt really tell from my angle.

He didn't touch a lot of the "saves" that induced the Benny Benny chant. Goalposts stood tall once again

 

[Blairwitch58]

Yes, Dale900 thought the team needed more grit so he dressed Leonard

This was a brilliant move.

 

[Fastpace]

I think it was recognition of a rookie rising to the occasion in a pressure cooker. He did make some excellent saves when Sarnia started pressing. Deserving of a game star, what the hell does it matter?

Think of as Londons response to "Benny, Benny" evrty time Gaudreau makes a save. I would love to see a replay of that second period "goal that didnt happen". The whole building was gobsmacked it didnt go in, but I dont think Gaudreau touched it, couldnt really tell from my angle.

Bowen still managed to win the game at a time it could have gone either way, he got the credit for that win with the 23 minutes of hockey he played. Not taking anything away from Brochu who had a shutout going at the time of his injury, he wasn't available to close out the win. I am giving the rookie goal tender Bowen the full deserving credit for coming in cold and winning the crucial game #2 in his first ever OHL playoffs appearance.

 

[Blairwitch58]

Bitter sweet victory. Almost would rather have loss than Brochu injury. Knights deserve praise for their play been a great year and Hunter has outcoached opposition in every series. Sitting Gaz must have been hard...but Federkow and Leonard have played well. Sorta does not feel like 2-0 lead.

 

[Ferda11]

I think it was recognition of a rookie rising to the occasion in a pressure cooker. He did make some excellent saves when Sarnia started pressing. Deserving of a game star, what the hell does it matter?

Never said it mattered. It was an observation and a reply to a on-going discussion. Sorry if that upsets you.

 

[Otto]

 

[dmead]

Never said it mattered. It was an observation and a reply to a on-going discussion. Sorry if that upsets you.

From you it doesnt really bother me. Just reacting to a years old thread over on the NOOF.

i shouldnt hav even typed that sentence, it obviously is being given far more weight than the rest of my post, which wasnt the focus at all.

 

[Maxxim1]

Time to take a page from Archie Bell & the Drells

NOW is the time for the team to heed Otto’s obscure reference from a few days ago………

 

[Knights77]

You appear to be an authority, possibly the teams medical or training personell. If not then it is merely conjecture with bias.

It couldnt possibly be the result of the right knee tweak from Martin running him in game 2 against Kitchener. He was favouring the knee in that game. He couldnt have caught a rut in the ice, you discounted that as fact.

We just dont know, but its the Internet, truth and reality gets suspended.

No, certainly not an authority. Just an opinion, pretty sure that’s still allowed. That’s an interesting take, you think it’s a carry over from that play in the past series? I’ll ignore the sarcasm and consider the point you made. Anything’s possible.

 

[Knights77]

I understand BB is one of the hardest workers on the team. unlikely he and the training staff haven't been working on conditioning the ankle. Ankles are finicky things and tough to rehab. Sometimes S**t just happens. I would not characterize this injury as BB letting the team down.


Love his game.

I get that my post has upset some people as you can’t say anything negative about any Knight without drawing the ire of some of the faithful…but my question would be, why doesn’t this happen to more goalies throughout hockey? Pro, semi-pro, juniors. Freak accidents happen but two non contact injuries? Usually the average person get these injuries when they are out of shape, and In this case he is NOT out of shape but perhaps conditioning comes into question. If you’d rather believe it’s bad luck, that’s fine.

 

[dmead]

No, certainly not an authority. Just an opinion, pretty sure that’s still allowed. That’s an interesting take, you think it’s a carry over from that play in the past series? I’ll ignore the sarcasm and consider the point you made. Anything’s possible.

It very well could be a carry over. Martin ran him and he did favour the leg rest of the game. Not saying for sure, but a possibility.

Now, last year was high ankle spraine on left leg. This year looks like right knee but I will defer to the medical guys on why.

I appreciate your willingness to at least look at possibilities, most times posters will double down...

PS. I dont see why my original reply was removed.

 

[dino200022]

Bitter sweet victory. Almost would rather have loss than Brochu injury. Knights deserve praise for their play been a great year and Hunter has outcoached opposition in every series. Sitting Gaz must have been hard...but Federkow and Leonard have played well. Sorta does not feel like 2-0 lead.

Gaz was not benched, he became sick some time late on Friday, and by Saturday night he was quite Ill so there was zero chance he was coming to the arena or being around anyone on the team for that matter. Although it does seem convenient to have a guy like Leonard come in to the series where Sarnia is actually pushing back.

He didn't touch a lot of the "saves" that induced the Benny Benny chant. Goalposts stood tall once again

Agreed, my numbers may be off but 3 Post's and 2 crossbar's so far. Not to mention a few sticks that re-directed a few of the empty net chances that "Benny" most certainly did not touch.

 

[Knights77]

It very well could be a carry over. Martin ran him and he did favour the leg rest of the game. Not saying for sure, but a possibility.

Now, last year was high ankle spraine on left leg. This year looks like right knee but I will defer to the medical guys on why.

I appreciate your willingness to at least look at possibilities, most times posters will double down...

PS. I dont see why my original reply was removed.

It’s a fair possibility and thanks for raising it. And you original reply likely was removed because I did a double response which included somebody else that was not approved. All good

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Let's hope he has the chance to get another one of these.

Ontario Hockey League

The OHL consists of 20 member teams, including 17 in the province of Ontario as well as three in the United States, with two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania.

ontariohockeyleague.com

 

[Knights77]

Anyone going to the games in Sarnia, or know anyone that is going? I can’t imagine too many Knights fans will be there given how the tickets were sold.

 

[dmead]

Anyone going to the games in Sarnia, or know anyone that is going? I can’t imagine too many Knights fans will be there given how the tickets were sold.

Yup, a group of 10 from Section 305 are going down on Wednesday.

One of our guys stood in line for 6 and half hours. We'll hear about it for months, maybe well into next season....

 

[dmead]

Let's hope he has the chance to get another one of these.

Ontario Hockey League

The OHL consists of 20 member teams, including 17 in the province of Ontario as well as three in the United States, with two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania.

ontariohockeyleague.com

going 1-0 with a 0.62 goals-against average and .980 save percentage.

Allowed 0.62 goals in 1 game? Huh?

 

[BobHockey]

I think everyone is seeing how good Cowan truly is. He’s a Knight through and through. This kid is one of the hardest working players every shift

People who know what’s going on.. who do you think the Knights Sogn from the 2023 OHL draft?

I’m guessing Fagen, Medvedev and Arrowsmith are almost locks? Anyone else from the draft class or do you think they sign all 12 that showed up?


Awesome… you are the goalie guru so this is a good sign!

Cowan's play reminds me a fair bit of Matthew Tkachuk. Not saying he is as good as MT or will be but his style of play is similar at least imo.

 

[dmead]

Cowan's play reminds me a fair bit of Matthew Tkachuk. Not saying he is as good as MT or will be but his style of play is similar at least imo.

Definately has the motor, and not afraid of the dirty areas. Quickly becoming one of my fav all time Knights.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

going 1-0 with a 0.62 goals-against average and .980 save percentage.

Allowed 0.62 goals in 1 game? Huh?

Because he played Sunday, but only 36:25 minutes of the game. He wasn't credited with a decision.

 

[dino200022]

going 1-0 with a 0.62 goals-against average and .980 save percentage.

Allowed 0.62 goals in 1 game? Huh?

He theoretically played 2 games. Unfortunately he left late in the second period of his second game while winning 1-0. Because Bowen came in and the game then turned 1-1 Bowen officially became the goaltender of record. 1 Goal in 97 minutes played equals a 0.621 GAA. Simple Math

 

[dmead]

He theoretically played 2 games. Unfortunately he left late in the second period of his second game while winning 1-0. Because Bowen came in and the game then turned 1-1 Bowen officially became the goaltender of record. 1 Goal in 97 minutes played equals a 0.621 GAA. Simple Math

Ok. Didnt think they included sunday game in last weeks numbers. Thks for the logical explanation.

 

[nelli27]

Cowan's play reminds me a fair bit of Matthew Tkachuk. Not saying he is as good as MT or will be but his style of play is similar at least imo.

If only Tkachuk had Cowan's speed!