Too much to handle

February 4, 2012 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors News Release


The Mississauga St. Michael's Majors found the Ontario Hockey League's top team just too tough to handle on Saturday night.

Austin Watson scored twice and Vladislav Namestnikov added a goal and two assists to lead the OHL leading London Knights to a 5-2 win over the Majors at the John Labatt Centre.

The final score actually flattered the Majors, as London out-shot Mississauga 52-17, including 37-9 over the final 40 minutes, to solidify their hold on first place in the OHL. The Majors remain in seventh place in the East despite the loss, as Belleville lost at Owen Sound.

Bo Horvat and Andreas Athanasiou scored the other goals for London. Jamie Wise with his 18th goal of the season and Brett Foy with his ninth replied for the Majors, while Brandon Maxwell was outstanding in goal, making 47 saves.

Majors General Manager/Coach James Boyd felt his team was simply over-matched on Saturday night.

"Brandon Maxwell was the best player on the ice tonight," Boyd said. "We now know where we match up against the number one ranked team in the CHL, and the hard work that we need to do to one day attain that level.

"London is a very good hockey team and we're just not with them right now in terms of talent."

Watson gave the Knights an early 1-0 lead at 1:34 of the opening period, assisted by Namestnikov. Horvat increased the London lead to 2-0 with his ninth goal of the season at 11:02, as Namestnikov picked up his second helper of the night. The Majors would answer back, however, as the veteran Wise continued to add to a career year with his 18th goal of the season ? shorthanded ? from Mika Partanen at 17:42 to send the game into the first intermission with the Knights up 2-1.

Athanasiou restored London's two goal lead with his 17th of the season, assisted by Ryan Rupert and Brett Welychka to open the second period scoring at 7:19 and give the Knights a 3-1 lead. The Majors answered back at 16:39 when Foy notched his ninth of the year from Partanen to cut the London lead to 3-2.

Watson put the Knights up 4-2 with his second of the game and the lone power play marker of the night, his 21st of the year, from Greg McKegg and Jared Knight with just 2:12 remaining in the middle frame. The Knights outshot the Majors 15-8 in the first period and 21-4 in the second for a two period total of 36-12.

The lone goal of the third period came with just 1:11 remaining as Namestnikov picked up his first goal of the night and third point with an empty net goal, assisted by Seth Griffith and Olli Maatta to ice the Knights 5-2 victory.

The Knights converted on one of their four power play opportunities, while the Majors went 0-for-3.

Despite allowing four goals, Maxwell turned away 47 of the 51 shots he faced in the Majors goal. Michael Houser stopped 15 of 17 shots he faced to pick up the win.

The Majors finish off their busy weekend against the Windsor Spitfires at 2:05 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday at the WFCU Centre. They return home to the Hershey Centre on Friday, February 10th for Paint the Rink Pink against the Oshawa Generals at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca, or by visiting the Hershey Centre box office.



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 4, 2012


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