The London Knights’ penalty kill has become a problem they can’t keep skating around.
Guelph cashed in three times on the power play Wednesday night and rode that special-teams edge to a 5-2 win over the Knights before 8,980 at Canada Life Place. It was London’s second straight regulation loss, the first time that’s happened this season, and the difference was impossible to miss.
“We’re not satisfied with that PK,” said Knights defenceman Juho Piiparinen, who stood out in the loss. “They (the Storm) are top of the standings and we can’t take stupid penalties.
That’s too much. Our PK guys are so exhausted going (out) all the time.
The best PK is staying out of the box.
“We’ve got to work on that.”
London did plenty of good things at five-on-five, where this roster is at its best. But once the penalties piled up, the game tilted hard toward Guelph. The Knights gave the Storm six power plays and managed only three of their own.
Assistant coach Rick Steadman said the issue isn’t one simple fix.
“I think it’s a little bit of everything,” Steadman said. “We had inexperienced defence at the start and now they have started to figure it out.
They’re blocking shots. Juho was all over it that first PK.
Now, we’ve got to dial the forwards back in. We’ve got to get on the same page.”
Guelph’s first big swing came from Ryan Roobroeck, the Jr. Knights grad and league scoring leader, who made London pay when given space. The Blackhawks prospect finished with two goals and three points in his hometown, and two of those points came on the man advantage.
“It’s the make-or-break part of the game, for sure,” Roobroeck said. “Special teams are always huge no matter who you’re playing any given night.”
The Storm opened the scoring in the second period after Piiparinen had given London a 1-0 lead at 2:59. Vladimir Dravecky tied it at 11:04 on the power play, then Timo Kazda put Guelph ahead less than two minutes later.
The third period brought more damage. Roobroeck scored at 2:11 on the power play, Marcus Nordmark answered for London at 7:05, and then Guelph slammed the door with another man-advantage goal from Owen Griffin at 8:16 before Roobroeck added his second of the night at 9:22.
By then, London had already gone to backup St. Marys Lincolns goalie Kobe Nadalin, who made his first OHL appearance in relief and stopped all six shots he faced. Starting goalie Brian Cooke was pulled midway through the third.
“Brian has been really great in these games,” Piiparinen, the Vegas first-rounder from Finland, said. “It’s hard for the d-men when the first goalie gets knocked out.
It’s not always the goalie’s fault. We’ve got to do a better job in front of him.”
Steadman said the Knights have already tried different personnel and different looks on the kill, even borrowing ideas from NHL teams. The results, though, still haven’t caught up.
“We have to clean this up and get it going the right way,” Steadman said. “You’re trying to nickel and dime it up and hopefully after 10-15 games, it’s back to something respectable. We have to stay engaged for the whole two minutes, get some momentum with it and go from there.”
The power-play problems weren’t the only item on the Knights’ list. Steadman also pointed to the need for more scoring beyond the top end of the lineup.
“The top seven have been carrying the load for us,” Steadman said. “They’ve been great for us.
We’ve had no complaints. We need some guys to step up and fill in that third- and fourth-line role and play some key minutes.
It’s playing a good overall game and helping these guys push the pace.”
The coaching staff recently used Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan as an example in a video session, highlighting the work rate that can push a player up the lineup.
“He’s just working so hard out there,” Steadman said of the Knights grad. “He draws penalties, takes shots, bumps into guys.
He’s just really outworking where he likely should be (in the lineup) and that moves him up. Then, you produce.
We talk to them about not holding anything back. Give all you’ve got and don’t have any regrets.
Usually, good things happen when you do that.”
There were a few other notes around the rink. Marcus Nordmark has now scored in five of his past six games.
London also released 19-year-old forward Mikhail Zakharov, who was claimed this week by Blainville-Boisbriand of the Quebec league. The 6-foot-6 Russian had a goal and two points in 12 games with the Knights.
Nadalin’s relief appearance came after the Knights indicated there is a chance newly acquired Arvin Jaswal travels with the team to Sault Ste. Marie and Saginaw this weekend. If the former Barrie Colt dresses, the coaching staff considers him ready to play if needed.
Wednesday also carried a little personal edge for a couple of players. Kane Barch renewed an old minor-hockey rivalry with Guelph’s Jakkko Wycisk, while former Barrie captain Evan Passmore made his first appearance for the Storm after Monday’s trade.
London is back on the road Friday in Sault Ste. Marie at 7:07 p.m.
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