Welcome to SooToday.com's live blog of this afternoon’s Ontario Hockey League game between the London Knights and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds at the Essar Centre.
The game is the second of two games at home for the Greyhounds this weekend. The game is the final one of the regular season at home for the Greyhounds and the Knights final game of the season, which has been extended to Monday as the Greyhounds travel to Saginaw on Monday to play the Spirit in a makeup game from earlier in the week. The Greyhounds opened the final weekend of the season on Friday night against Saginaw.
Check back this evening for a full game recap with comments from coaches of both teams.
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4:09 p.m. Update
After Patrick Watling hits the post on an empty net, Andrew Fritsch scores...7-5 Greyhounds final...Final shots 38-34 London
3:59 p.m. Update
Just the third penalty of the game is taken by Chandler Yackimovicz. 12 seconds into the penalty, London's Gemel Smith takes a feed from MacDonald. Smith's shot from the left circle beats Halverson high stick side up under the crossbar...6-5 Greyhounds
3:56 p.m. Update
Michael Bunting in tight converts a feed from Blake Speers as Patterson is out of position after the pass...6-4 Greyhounds
3:53 p.m. Update
Greyhounds get their first shot of the period just over nine minutes into the frame and Andrew Frtisch is turned aside by Patterson
3:42 p.m. Update
Third period is underway
3:22 p.m. Update
Matt Rupert gets his second of the night on a two-on-one with Mitch Marner. Rupert takes a feed from the rookie and slides a backhand past Halverson with 19 seconds left in the frame...5-4 Greyhounds through 40 minutes. Shots are 26-25 London
3:16 p.m. Update
Michael McCarron going to the net takes a nice feed from Gemel Smith. McCarron's shot beats Halverson glove side...5-3 Greyhounds
3:10 p.m. Update
Dylan Corson's shot is stopped initially. Corson goes to the net and bats i the rebound...5-2 Greyhounds
3:08 p.m. Update
Charley Graaskamp is stopped initially by Patterson. Overage forward Andrew Fritsch scored on the rebound...4-2 Greyhounds
2:58 p.m. Update
The Knights cut the Greyhounds lead back to one as Mitchell Marner scores on a rebound after Halverson makes the initial stop on Ryan Rupert at 1:44...3-2 Greyhounds
2:55 p.m. Update
The second period opens as Blake Speers scores a power play marker. His shot from the slot beats Patterson low glove side just 19 seconds into the period...3-1 Greyhounds
2:38 p.m. Update
The Greyhounds will take a power play into the second period as Brett Welychka gets two for goalie interference. Welychka ran into Greyhounds goaltender Brandon Halverson after the rookie goalie made a great pad stop on a redirection by the veteran forward...it's 2-1 Greyhoudns through one period with London holding a 13-11 edge in shots.
2:36 p.m. Update
Matt Rupert one-times a feed from brother Ryan on the left side boards to cut into the Greyhounds lead...2-1 Greyhounds
2:29 p.m. Update
Bryan Moore's shot from the slot beats Patterson glove side...one Patterson will want back....2-0 Greyhounds
2:23 p.m. Update
First power play of the night goes to London as Alex Gudbranson is called for tripping
2:18 p.m. Update
Tyler Hore cuts in from the right side and his shot from the right faceoff circle beats Patterson 5-hole through some bodies in close...1-0 Greyhounds
2:14 p.m. Update
Jean Dupuy with the best chance early on, hitting the crossbar glove side on Jake Patterson. Shortly after, Patrick Watling finds himself alone in close but is turned aside by Patterson
2:10 p.m. Update
After a ceremony honouring the overage players we are underway
Pre-Game Update
Lineups are set. To the surprise of few, lots of veterans out for both clubs who have nothing to gain in the standings.
Scratches
Sault Ste. Marie: Tyler Ganly, Jared McCann, Sergey Tolchinsky, Kyle Jenkins
London: Zach Bell, Christian Dvorak, Max Domi, Alex Basso, Bo Horvat, Brady Austin, Nikita Zadorov, Chris Tierney, Josh Anderson
Lines
Sault Ste. Marie: Patrick Watling-Tyler Gaudet-Charley Graaskamp, Keigan Goetz-Jean Dupuy-Trent Mallette, Bryan Moore-David Miller-Blake Speers, Michael Bunting-Dylan Corson-Jorgen Karterud, Andrew Fritsch; Darnell Nurse-Alex Gudbranson, Tyler Hore-David Eccles, Colton White; Brandon Halverson
London: Matt Rupert-Ryan Rupert-Mitchell Marner, Gemel Smith-Michael McCarron-Brett Welychka, Tait Seguin-Owen MacDonald-Chandler Yackimowicz, John Warren-Tristan Elie-Spencer Hutchinson; Dakota Mermis-Tim Bender, Aiden Jamieson-Mitchell Kreis, Cam Garrow; Jake Patterson
Starters
Sault Ste. Marie: Patrick Watling-Tyler Gaudet-Andrew Fritsch, Darnell Nurse-Alex Gudbranson; Brandon Halverson
London: Gemel Smith-Michael McCarron-Brett Welychka; Dakota Mermis-Tim Bender; Jake Patterson