The London Knights were without defenseman Jackson Edward for the third straight game against the Saginaw Spirit on Monday. Without Edward, the Spirit defeated the Knights 6-1 in game 3, though London still leads the best-of-seven OHL Western Conference Final series 2-1. Edward’s absence forced the Knights to play three rookie defensemen. Stalwarts Sam Dickinson, Isaiah George and Oliver Bonk played over 35 minutes each in game 2, putting added pressure on the inexperienced players in game 3.
The Dubuque Fighting Saints beat the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-3, taking a 2-0 series lead in the best-of-5 conference finals. Dubuque jumped out to a 3-0 first period lead and extended it to 4-0 early in the second. Though Muskegon rallied to close the gap, they ultimately fell short. Beckett Hendrickson contributed an assist in the Dubuque win, finishing +1. Tight checking has limited his offensive opportunities, as he was held without a shot.
After missing the first three games of the series, Jackson Edward returned to the London Knights lineup on Wednesday. Although he did not contribute to the scoring, his return helped balance the ice time among the London defensemen. This contributed to London’s 7-3 win over the Saginaw Spirit, giving the Knights a 3-1 series lead. Edward finished with one shot on goal and was a plus-2.
The Dubuque Fighting Saints advanced to the Clark Cup Finals by beating the Muskegon Lumberjacks 4-0 and sweeping the series 3-0 on Thursday. Dubuque dominated the first period, outshooting Muskegon 15-3, but failed to score. They broke the tie less than 8 minutes into the second period and maintained their lead. Beckett Hendrickson was not involved in the scoring, registering zero shots on goal and an even plus-minus.
On Friday, the London Knights aimed for victory in the quest for the Wayne Gretzky Trophy and advancement to the OHL Championship. However, the Saginaw Spirit had other plans. Securing a late goal in the first period, the Spirit maintained their lead and clinched a 4-2 win. They will now return home to strive for a series tie. The game was intense and physical, particularly towards the conclusion. Edward was unable to score, managing 3 shots on goal and ending the night at a minus-1.
Latvia defeated Norway 8-0 in a warmup game for the Men’s World Hockey Championships on Saturday. Dans Locmelis did not score in the win, bringing his total to 2 goals and 2 assists in 7 exhibition games for the Latvian team. This was the final warmup game before the tournament starts.
Jackson Edward scored the game-winning/series clinching goal for London against Saginaw on Sunday, helping his team clinch the series with a 4-2 victory. Despite Saginaw tying the game at 2-2, Edward quickly regained the lead with a well-placed shot just 48 seconds later. Earlier in the game, there was some controversy when Edward appeared to step on a Saginaw player’s arm after lying on top of him near the London net. Despite initial concerns, the referees ultimately decided not to penalize Edward after reviewing the incident. The league will further investigate the situation, but currently, there is no conclusive evidence suggesting that Edward’s actions were deliberate. These two teams could meet again in the Memorial Cup since Saginaw is the host. London would have to win the OHL Championship.
Here’s a look at the Providence Bruins leaders. You will notice a Benchrates column. This is provided by our friends at Benchrates. Created by a retired hockey player, Benchrates has created and algorithm that computes values in real time. The value you see is the cap hit value they’ve earned this season to date. Give them a look and check out their site.
Coming up this week:
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Numerous articles have covered the Bruins’ prospect pool, and the national media consistently places them among the bottom three or four teams in the league. While it may not be among the best, it is not as weak as portrayed. The team may be missing top-tier talent, but without high draft picks, acquiring such players remains a challenge.
Dobber Prospects credited the Bruins as 22nd in the league. In the weeks ahead of the NHL draft, I will extensively assess Bruins prospects, review the team’s drafts under Don Sweeney, and provide a preview of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
But first, let’s get through the playoffs.
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