'We believe we’re the strongest team': Knights prepare for long playoff run
Budweiser Gardens is about to be rockin’.
"It's the best time of the year,” said Rick Steadman, Knights assistant coach. “We’ve got the fans coming in and they're going to be loud. It's just an exciting time.”
The Knights slumped down the stretch — which cost them first place in the Western Conference — but with wins Saturday and Sunday they finished second overall.
They now believe the pendulum has swung as they head into their first round playoff series with the seventh-seeded Owen Sound Attack.
“Those two last wins were huge for us,” said Landon Sim, who had 14 goals in 56 games this year for London. “The morale has changed after those wins. We kind of had a rough stretch here last couple of weeks, but that win on Sunday against Kitchener felt awesome.”
“Momentum going into playoffs is huge, and I think we've definitely built some over the past few games,” added Sam Dickinson, a Knights rookie defenceman. “We've played well as a team, we've done the little things right, and we just got to continue to do that into the playoffs.”
In addition, they will carry a bit of swagger too.
“We believe we’re the best team in the league,” said Dickinson. “From the guys up front, to the ‘d’ [defence] and in the net, we believe we're the strongest team.”
In Owen Sound, the Attack are taking on the role of underdog, even though they split the season series with the Knights 3-3.
They were decimated by injuries all season, but are getting healthy at the right time.
“I think with our team we’ve lost probably about 230 or more man games to injury,” said Greg Walters, Attack head coach. “We're slowly getting back here and hoping that we could have a full lineup for the first time in a long time. There's no better place to the play than ‘The Bud’ on Friday night.”
London bowed out in round one last season to Kitchener, which was a huge disappointment to not only the fans, but the entire organization.
“Losing game seven last year was one of the toughest experiences we have ever been through,” said Sim. “We don't want to go through something like that again. So, we have a lot of guys that were in that situation last year. We just kind of want to get some revenge and not let that happen again.”
The Knights host game one Friday and game two on Sunday before the series shifts back to Owen Sound next week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.