London Knights 2024 - 25 Season Thread, Part VII

[Fastpace]

Before first game i would have said 90% chance Knights OHL Championship. With Barkey maybe done for season that drops to 60% its not just his scoring, puck pursuit, killing penalties and power play setup. We have a deep team..but..i would trade a loss last night for no injury.

That 60%, was it a guess? The reason I ask, before the series begun, both team had 50/50 percent chance of winning, now London lose a good player and their percentage goes up to 60%. It is also possible Kitchener lost one very good player (Andonovski ) as well, possibly two if Humphreys doesn't return from his leaving the ice.. Teams somtimes lose great players but find ways to elevate their game to compensate. Maybe 60% it is, I guess !

 

[shootscore115]

thanks for the replay of the hit. My coverage online started at the 19 minute mark so I missed it. The check looked like a good hit by Haltunen but looked bad because the other player cross-checked him from behind into Haltunen's shoulder. Didn't look like a head shot though. Another view might show something else but good check to me

 

[Matt93]

If it was a headshot was wasn’t it a 5 or 2 called after the refs got the video out ? It’s pretty hard to throw the guy out for 8 games after they called a 5 refs reviewed the play and then called no penalty don’t ya think?

I wouldn’t bank on just because the refs didn’t call a penalty. It was evident these officials should never ref another OHL. They were clearly overmatched and had no idea how to control the game.

I hope they had a long talking to post game but I doubt it, it’s the OHL.

 

[Fastpace]

Some solid names! Too bad no Monks

and Mews

 

[Otto]

Kaleb Lawrence last year comes to mind. Lengthy suspension in the playoffs

What exactly does your 1 example have to do with how playoff hockey has been played for decades?

 

[Fastpace]

Kaleb Lawrence last year comes to mind. Lengthy suspension in the playoffs

We got to respect referee calls, so we'll give them this one as well, even though Motew skated with his head down right into Lawrence's backside, knocking his own self out and out of that series, and yet, they suspended Lawrence's big derriere for 5 games

 

[All the Answers]

We got to respect referee calls, so we'll give them this one as well, even though Motew skated with his head down right into Lawrence's backside, knocking his own self out and out of that series, and yet, they suspended Lawrence's big derriere for 5 games

You continue this false narrative regarding Motew/Lawrence from last year with all video evidence to the contrary. Your opinion is summarily dismissed.

 

[Otto]

I can't resist posting this picture of a former London Knight from my home town

 

[Millpond]

Some ppl here are in the know

Sometimes they don't know till they know.
We had a guy take a puck off the skate in practice and word was broken foot .
About a week later he was back skating .
Turns out it was a deep bone bruise but until the swelling went down ,no one knew .

 

[Ken Yates]

That 60%, was it a guess? The reason I ask, before the series begun, both team had 50/50 percent chance of winning, now London lose a good player and their percentage goes up to 60%. It is also possible Kitchener lost one very good player (Andonovski ) as well, possibly two if Humphreys doesn't return from his leaving the ice.. Teams somtimes lose great players but find ways to elevate their game to compensate. Maybe 60% it is, I guess !

No one gave Kitchener a 50% chance of winning this series before it started..its not close. Take away our captain ..our best player(all repect to Dickinson) and odds go way down. Like i said would trade a first game loss for healthy Barkey. If Andonovski is hurt which i doubt that changes things again. I hope i am wrong but that Barkey injury looked like no Mem cup for him.

 

[crowncarrier]

Are you guys just talking here or have we heard an announcement on Barkey ??
Also I was at the game but didn’t see how it happened. Does anyone know ?

The hit was a touch late but its the playoffs. I think it took Barkey by surprise and while losing his balance and falling backwards his ankle folded under him. Was not pretty.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

If it was a headshot was wasn’t it a 5 or 2 called after the refs got the video out ? It’s pretty hard to throw the guy out for 8 games after they called a 5 refs reviewed the play and then called no penalty don’t ya think?

What the refs decide and what the league decides often doesn’t align.

 

[All the Answers]

The hit was a touch late but its the play odds. I think it took Barkey by surprise and while losing his balance and falling backwards his ankle folded under him. Was not pretty.

Video also shows Barkey watching his pass a little too intently

 

[EvenSteven]

I don’t think the hits are comparable, Liambis hit a guy who was in the process of turning. Halttunen hit a guy square in the front of his body, whose head got pushed forward in the process of the hit.

Not comparing the hits in relation to the targets. Just comparing the fact that neither player jumped, no elbow, charge, etc etc.

The intent and action in both cases was clean and legal. The intention was a clean, hard hit. It goes south last night because of the head contact and outcome.

Liambis because of the outcome.

 

[All the Answers]

Liambas was a charge...uncalled iirc

 

[rangersblues]

Actually, you just described the Liambis hit on Fanelli to a tee. Right up to the player just releasing the puck. In playing the puck, Fanelli spun around showing his back to Liambis at the last instant. Wasn’t even a headshot.

Even Dave Branch called it a clean hit that went bad. He was basically suspended for the outcome of the hit. I’m not wanting to rehash that debate on here.

But everything you said doesn’t matter if the first point of contact is the head.

It would be nice to see replays of the hit from various angles.

The Liambis hit was clean that went bad? I respect most of what you say ES but talk about changing the narrative to fit the present. Liambis ran at Fanelli full speed and tried to put him through the boards. You're correct there was no elbow or leaving the feet but c'mon man. That was anything but a clean hit and I'm unsure how you couldn't say there was clear intent to injure.

There's no comparison at all to anything last night.

 

[EvenSteven]

The Liambis hit was clean that went bad? I respect most of what you say ES but talk about changing the narrative to fit the present. Liambis ran at Fanelli full speed and tried to put him through the boards. You're correct there was no elbow or leaving the feet but c'mon man. That was anything but a clean hit and I'm unsure how you couldn't say there was clear intent to injure.

There's no comparison at all to anything last night.

I’m not comparing the Liambis hit to the hit last night except that neither player jumped, elbowed, charged, etc. That both were clean that went wrong. In last night’s case, headshot. In the Liambis case, Fanelli turned past the point of no return, and because of the force, and head hitting the stansion, ended bad.

Liambis stopped taking strides just past the face off dot. No jump. Elbow tucked. Fanelli spun on him last instant. But he was going at top speed.

Branch himself said it was a clean hit. The hockey world at the time said the same. Big debate on it at the NHL all star game. Steve Spott refuses to say he saw it or rewatched it because he’d have to say the same.

Yes, Liambis tried to run him through the boards. At a high rate of speed. Clean. Just like all fore checkers are taught. We cheered the likes of Mike Duco for doing the same. (Ask Soo fans about that)

But Branch said in leveling the suspension that even though it was a clean hit, it happened at a high rate of speed and he didn’t like the outcome. Thus the suspension.

That’s the last I’m going to talk of this as I said earlier I didn’t want to fire up this damn argument again. Sorry for even mentioning it.

I’m moving on.

On to Game Two.

 

[Fastpace]

No one gave Kitchener a 50% chance of winning this series before it started..its not close. Take away our captain ..our best player(all repect to Dickinson) and odds go way down. Like i said would trade a first game loss for healthy Barkey. If Andonovski is hurt which i doubt that changes things again. I hope i am wrong but that Barkey injury looked like no Mem cup for him.

In the end it may turn out, and probably will end-up as you say for the London Knights, but this is playoffs hockey. It's a new season and now a new series is started. The biggest mistake any team can make in these times, is to think they have 90% chance of winning a game that two teams have equal crack at winning it. Best throw everything about the regular season out the window, it don't count anymore, that season is long gone and all the stats with it, they have to create new ones. This playoffs series is a brand new short season, Erie and Owen Sound are long gone too, other new stats are to be made by both teams. Cheers!

 

[Otto]

Maybe Rags fans can take their discussion about a hit that happened over 15 years ago over to their board...

 

[EvenSteven]

Maybe Rags fans can take their discussion about a hit that happened over 15 years ago over to their board...

 

[crowncarrier]

Video also shows Barkey watching his pass a little too intently

Very true...that's done far to often. Players have to keep their heads up especially in the playoffs.

 

[JagrBomb93]

What exactly does your 1 example have to do with how playoff hockey has been played for decades?

It shows that if you cross the line, you will be suspended - playoffs or not.

 

[SaneKnightsfsn]

Hawery is by far the better player, I also would like to see Van Bommell in the lineup. With that said, I fully understand why Boulton dresses. He brings something to the table very few can, if things start getting hairy or guys start taking runs to Barkey/Cowan, he can calm things down. If you get down early and need a momentum turn, you tell him to go out there and do that. Just having him sitting on the bench, he plays a factor and makes opponents think.

It was good Bolton was in last night because Hlcar was running around like a moron but wouldn’t answer the bell

 

[LDN]

It was good Bolton was in last night because Hlcar was running around like a moron but wouldn’t answer the bell

He will need to answer tomorrow. If Kitchener wants to play this way London will do the same. Knights will out skill you, but they will also out grit you

 

[crowncarrier]

2 goals from clear cut shots that were not screened or deflected. I’m getting Simpson vibes from Elliott and that’s not good.
As long as he saves us when we need him I guess.
Great team game overall so far.

First goal went in off Henry's stick. Second was a slight screen. Relax.