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London Knights 2023 - 24 Season Thread (Part Three)

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Starry Knight said:
As a mental exercise, what else does Sawyer Boulton offer besides open ice hits? That's my bone to pick. Hits are part of the game, but if the only thing you bring (and need to bring to stay in the lineup) are fights and hits big enough to injure players, then you shouldn't be in the league. He has to make these hits, which is a dangerous aspect. He's going on the ice and actively seeking open ice hits because it's all he has to offer.



Cowan scored before that...
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You are seeing only one, I am seeing a whole team. Even after Cowan score the game was still even until the Boulton's hits, only after that did the game changed in London's favours
 
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6-1 Knights, extend win streak to 11. "Spirited" affair.
Saginaw 0/8 on the PP.
Knights 2/5.
So, we dominated at even strength, and on special teams.
Cowan opens the scoring with a beautiful goal, and Boulton's two hits (on one shift, seconds apart) and confrontation with Gervais just added to the momentum. Spirit's PK had a hard time defending Bonk in the bumper position. Lawrence had an impact...threw the body all "k"night, scored, defended teammates, backchecked, generated offence...Much more than Beck, Donovan, etc and at a discounted price! Oake did not play well.
Great [add expletive] game! Best game of the year!

Hedon rating:

10/10
 
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Last night was their most meaningful win of this season, it was also a huge sample of what's to come in the playoffs, This team by no mean is it perfect, there are still issues to work on, but they have 2 1/2 months to work with. They are not the best yet, that will still be determined after playoffs and Memorial Cup Tourney if they get there, after last night game they are heading in the right direction. They will be fine
 
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Fastpace said:
Last night was their most meaningful win of this season, it was also a huge sample of what's to come in the playoffs, This team by no mean is it perfect, there are still issues to work on, but they have 2 1/2 months to work with. They are not the best yet, that will still be determined after playoffs and Memorial Cup Tourney if they get there, after last night game they are heading in the right direction. They will be fine
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This team is looking more and more like the team that went to the OHL final last year, very determined. I didn’t think Sim coming back would be as impactful as it has been, but when he came back it seemed like a switch flipped and they started playing more physical and in their opponents face, the same style that got them to the final last year.

Should be a fun next few months!
 
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nelli27 said:
That was a great shift! Boulton flattens 2 Saginaw players, Gervais comes in to challenge Boulton, then turtles. How could you watch that and not get pumped? Obviously clean hits.. Refs not letting either team get away with crap.
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On a team that pretty much rolls three lines anyway I have a spot on my fourth for that guy we saw last night.
Like I was saying to those I was watching the game with sure he makes some dumb plays and get punished for them but him being suspended isn't the end of the world compared to safety/imtimidation ( call it what you want ) he provides when he's in the line up.
The guy that was gonna fight him after hit number two forgot to check who he was challenging and when he figured it out his mind changed quickly. That's not a bad asset to have when you have the Barkey's, Cowan's and VanGorps of the world who still have some growing to do but like to play without fear..
 
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Ferguson Jenkins said:
Sometimes it takes a few weeks for things to normalize after a number of trades. Saginaw should be fine but London definitely played a good game.
Like Lawrence’s game. He’s quicker than I remember.
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Yes sometimes loading up with too many players it takes too long to develop chemistry where everyone knows their roles. They could be no like Kitchener last year, or Guelph in 2019. It’s boom or bust
 
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That was a fantastic effort last night. This team plays flat out to the whistle, which is very uncommon from this franchise.

No lazy shifts!

I thought it was amazing to see our forwards win the chase to every dump in, Saginaw had no chance matching our speed. Alternatively, Saginaw could not penetrate our zone and work a cycle we won those puck battles.

We brought men’s physical game, Saginaw didn’t like it but had no answer.

Simpson stood on his head when needed.

My only criticism was Halttunen sucked. But he will shake off the rust and move up in playing time.

Lawrence fit in nicely, slow but uses his reach, is physical and always ready to shoot!
 
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tjziel said:
Yes sometimes loading up with too many players it takes too long to develop chemistry where everyone knows their roles. They could be no like Kitchener last year, or Guelph in 2019. It’s boom or bust
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I'll always remember a post game interview with Layton Moore last year when asked about the team building chemistry and without hesitation he said it's super complex and can take awhile to set in. We know the rest.
 
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Great effort by everyone dressed. I have had season's tickets for over 40 years and this team and last years team seem to be the most "complete" teams I have seen other then possibly the 2005, 2012 and 2016 teams. They really have team first mentality. I cannot believe that clean hits should be taken out of the game. That still remains an important part of it. Boulton's hits were clean and sent a clear message to the Spirit that I am here to protect my teammates and Lawrence was in that mode as well. I thought Lawrence played a great 200 foot game last night and what he loses in speed he makes up for reach and positioning. Very dominate game by the Knights and hope they bring that Sunday against the Attack.
 
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RangerNation said:
I'll always remember a post game interview with Layton Moore last year when asked about the team building chemistry and without hesitation he said it's super complex and can take awhile to set in. We know the rest.
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Exactly, and that’s why teams that get ousted from the playoffs come back into the Memorial Cup stronger because they built the chemistry and everyone knows their roles and they look like a different team aka Shawinigan 2012 :(
 
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I don't know what Evan Van Gorp eats before games, what ever it is, pass it on around the table, this kid always does things that make coaches notice. He's a Steve Martell type of players (former Knights in the late 80s), does make things happens on the ice in many ways, he's a spark plug and an injector all combined at once
 
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I seem to recall posting at the conclusion of last season, that it was just a "dress rehearsal" for the upcoming season. Well, we're now well into that season, and the team is looking good. Players have an additional season of maturity, and have added some pounds & inches. Rookies have been introduced following a year of seasoning in JR. B.....and haven't looked out of place. Some much needed sandpaper and snarl have been added, and these players all seem to have each other's backs. Van Gorp as a free agent pickup has been quite the find. Don't know how accurate the info was, but I did hear that he did attend a Sting training camp, and was CUT ! Their loss, and our gain :thumbu:
 
Knights Watcher said:
My fave part of the evening? Michael Misa's 1st period interview. And I quote "We're down by 2 but that's gonna change the next 2 periods". Wow. Pretty cocky. Did he even play tonight? Well he was right in a way. It changed drastically. LMFAO
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Knights Watcher said:
My fave part of the evening? Michael Misa's 1st period interview. And I quote "We're down by 2 but that's gonna change the next 2 periods". Wow. Pretty cocky. Did he even play tonight? Well he was right in a way. It changed drastically. LMFAO
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Maybe cut him a little slack, he's 16. Perhaps he hasn't completed the in class course on talking to the media . He did learn enough though not to say " yeah, I mean I think we are going the lose this game big time" :sarcasm:
 
OS in today for a 2 pm start. Weather nasty... Probably wise to leave no later than 9 am. Drive safe.
London looking to extend win streak to 12.
OS has the best PK in the O on the ROAD.
And, surprisingly, a very good road record, something like 12-6. Their struggles come at the Bayshore.
Should be a good game.
 
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This afternoon's game isn't won yet, every game must be played and won on its own merits.

Owen Sound are still a formidable opponent, they were ranked higher at the beginning of this season for a very good reason. They have not forfeited this game, they are coming to London to play it.
 
I dislike when Boulton goes to far BUT I believe he has found his line if he plays like that night in and night out it will help the playmaker play while adding in some big hits pumping up tge crowd
 
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