Knights Open Regular Season with Loss against the Petes
September 21, 2019 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
London Knights News Release
In the first game ever played at what is now known as Budweiser Gardens, the London Knights fell behind 4-1 to the Plymouth Whalers.
Dylan Hunter had the only goal on the Knights' side.
The advantage London had that night was 39 minutes and 28 seconds to come back and that's exactly what they did in a 5-4 victory.
By the time the Peterborough Petes had built a 4-1 lead on Friday night in the Knights' 2019-20 home opener, London had less time to work with and got the three goals they would have needed to tie the game but two goals by the Petes kept them ahead in a 6-4 Peterborough victory.
The Knights cut the Petes lead to two goals on three separate occasions in the final period.
Hunter Skinner scored two goals in his London debut and tied with Gerard Keane for a team-high five shots on goal. Skinner is a fourth-round selection of the New York Rangers. Connor McMichael and Nathan Dunkley had the other goals for the Knights.
Jordan Kooy started in goal for London and was replaced by Matt Onuska after the fourth goal by the Petes in an attempt to spark the team in front of him. Kooy made 12 saves on 16 shots. Onuska made five saves in his OHL debut. The Knights outshot the Petes 18-6 in the third period and 35-23 overall
London went 1-for-2 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill and head on the road in search of their first win on Saturday in Barrie.
How the goals were scored
Hunter Skinner opened the opening night scoring with his first goal in the OHL that showed off his ability to shoot the puck. Skinner snapped a shot past Hunter Jones after corralling a bounce in the Peterborough end.
The Petes tied the game and went ahead in a span of 23 seconds as Dustin Hutton banged in a rebound to the left of the Knight net and then Brady Hinz fired a shot past Kooy from a sharp angle and the teams went to the first intermission with Peterborough ahead 2-1.
The Petes got goals from Arizona Coyotes' prospect Liam Kirk and Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect Nick Robertson in the second period to lead 4-1 through 40 minutes.
McMichael made it 4-2 at 5:04 of the third with a wrist shot on a power play that beat Jones only to have Nick Robertson answer back 38 seconds later.
Skinner's second of the game made it 5-3 with just over 11 minutes left in regulation and again the Petes answered on Chad Denault's first of the year.
With the London net empty Nathan Dunkley brought the Knights to within a pair for a final time on a shot from the left side of the ice.
Ontario Hockey League Stories from September 21, 2019
- Colts Third Period Surge Buries the Top Ranked Knights in Home Opener - Barrie Colts
- Spirit Unable to Generate Enough Offense to Beat Firebirds - Saginaw Spirit
- Barber Poles open season with a perfect weekend on the road - Ottawa 67's
- Bulldogs Drop Home Opener To Otters 8-5 - Brantford Bulldogs
- Game Preview - September 22nd vs. SBY - Brampton Steelheads
- Fronts Fall to Strong Generals Squad in Home Opener - Kingston Frontenacs
- Preview: Spirit Open Home Schedule Saturday against Firebirds - Saginaw Spirit
- Knights Open Regular Season with Loss against the Petes - London Knights
- Spirit Drop Season Opener in Overtime - Saginaw Spirit
- Battalion Blanked in Opener - North Bay Battalion
- Greaves Earns Shutout as Colts Win Season Opener - Barrie Colts
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