London Knights beat Saginaw Spirit, punch ticket to Memorial Cup final

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SAGINAW, Mich. – The London Knights needed a hero.

Easton Cowan, as usual, answered the call.

The OHL regular-season and playoff MVP scored with 1:25 left in regulation and added an empty-netter to send the unbeaten Knights to the Memorial Cup final in a 4-2 victory over rival Saginaw before 5,306 Wednesday at the Dow Event Center.

The Maple Leafs first-rounder had the two biggest goals and three points in the most-anticipated game of the tournament so far. He had two assists in London’s first two wins here.

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“I couldn’t really find my legs,” he admitted. “I felt like in that third period, I got back to my game with forechecking and stops and starts. It felt good to get that (winner) in. It’s a dream come true. All of us will be ready to go (Sunday night).

“We’ll have fun with it and treat it like another game.”

The host Spirit will now face Moose Jaw in the semifinal Friday. It could have easily been the Knights playing that extra game but Cowan wasn’t letting it happen.

“He’s got the skill and will,” London coach Dale Hunter said. “He’s a good skater, knows the game and pushes through. It’s hard skating out there and both teams went with three lines. It’s a battle (and) it’s the ones who overcome so much ice time and keep pushing.”

Saginaw had its looks but no one stepped up to score the big goal. The Spirit fell just short to London in the OHL standings, lost a hard-fought battle to them in the playoffs and couldn’t exact revenge in this first Memorial Cup meeting.

“It wasn’t a lack of effort,” Spirit coach Chris Lazary said. “Easton Cowan is a good hockey player. They made a sick play on (offensive zone) entry and he’s a dangerous player who scored.

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“It’s tough to lose (essentially) in the last minute like that, but it’s hockey.”

CASHING IN: Cowan and linemates Max McCue and Sam O’Reilly combined for 10 high-quality shots on net. McCue missed two breakaways and couldn’t convert a 2-on-1. O’Reilly fired a blast over the net and Cowan was stopped in succession by Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke.

“We had a lot of chances,” Cowan said. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work. I felt we were using our speed and each other well. Luckily, that one went in off the post and the rest is history.”

Dale Hunter didn’t feel like the trio was overly upset at those missed opportunities.

“You always feel good when you get chances,” he said. “It’s when you don’t get them that you start to get frustrated.”

When the game hung in the balance and overtime loomed, he turned to them again and Cowan delivered.

“That’s what you expect from your best players,” McCue said. “Guys like that, you lean on in the hard moments and they tend to come through. If you get the puck to Easton Cowan with two minutes left in the slot, he’s usually going to score.”

AROUND THE RINK: The Knights will play for their third Memorial Cup title Sunday. This will be their fourth trip to the final . . . London has won seven consecutive games at the event dating back to 2016. That’s third all-time . . . Dale Hunter pulled into second place all-time with his 13th coaching victory at the Cup. He matched Ottawa legend Brian Kilrea and sits one behind Don Hay. Hunter can tie the former Kamloops and Vancouver boss Sunday and also join Hay as the only two coaches with three Memorial Cup titles . . . The Knights won their first two Cups on May 29 in 2005 and ‘16. Thanks to Cowan, that date resonates again in Knights history . . . The most penalized team in the Canadian Hockey League gave Saginaw just one power play in an electric atmosphere. “It was a high-emotion game and I think we did a good job eliminating our penalties,” McCue said. London’s opponents are 0-for-10 so far on the power play . . . The Knights argued Saginaw’s Alex Christopoulos kicked in the game’s first goal. “The rules are they go upstairs and people up there decide,” Dale Hunter said. “There’s no challenge.” Did he think it should have been called back? “I’ve seen it,” Hunter said coyly. “Everybody’s got a different view.” . . . Saginaw star d-man Zayne Parekh was given a double-minor for high-sticking – actually cross-checking – McCue in the face and drawing blood. The Knights buried the equalizer on a Kasper Halttunen toe-dragged bullet. “I’m happy we scored on the power play,” McCue said. “It made it feel a little better.” . . . London goaltender Michael Simpson earned his stripes again by stopping 14 of 15 shots in the second period. That kept it tied heading to the decisive third. The over-age netminder has allowed just six goals in three games . . . Halttunen, who played in a men’s league back home in Finland last year and experienced the pace of the world junior tournament, again raised his game. His rush and pass on Denver Barkey’s second-period goal was highlight-reel stuff. A Sharks prospect, Halttunen has scored in all three games after leading the OHL with 17 playoff goals. He and Ruslan Gazizov have combined to score six of London’s 13 tallies so far at the Cup.

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rpyette@postmedia.com

MEMORIAL CUP

Knights 4, Spirit 2
London goals: Easton Cowan (2), Kasper Halttunen, Denver Barkey
Saginaw goals: Alex Christopoulos, Joey Willis
Next: The Knights advance to Sunday’s final. Saginaw will face Moose Jaw in the semifinal Friday night.

Wednesday at Dow Event Center

Knights 4, Spirit 2

First period
1., Saginaw, Christopoulos 2 (Bloom, Donovan) 8:50
2. London, Halttunen 3 (Cowan, Barkey) 14:23 (pp)
Penalties – Lawrence, Ldn, Hache, Sag (roughing) 6:29, Donovan, Sag (tripping) 10:00, Parekh, Sag (high-sticking) 13:44, Barkey, Ldn (hooking) 17:42.

Second period
3. London, Barkey 1 (Halttunen, George) 10:40
4. Saginaw, Willis 1 (Parekh) 14:20
Penalties – None.

Third period
5. London, Cowan 1 (O’Reilly, Bonk) 18:35
6. London, Cowan 2 (O’Reilly) 19:38 (en)
Penalties – None.

Shots on goal by
Saginaw 7 15 6–28
London 15 8 12–35

Power plays: Sag 0-1. Ldn 1-3.

Goalies: Oke, Sag (L, 2-1). Simpson, Ldn (W, 3-0).

Referees – Sean Reid, Jeff Hopkins. Linesmen – Justin Noble, Spencer Knox.

Attendance – 5,306.

Three stars: 1. Easton Cowan, Knights; 2. Kasper Halttunen, Knights; 3. Michael Simpson, Knights

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