The London Knights have outstanding special teams units, but could they be the biggest key to their success?
The London Knights lead the OHL in playoff penalty kill percentage, and they are second in power play percentage. London always seems to be able to get the upper hand on their opponents because of their play away from 5-on-5.
Are London's special teams unit the biggest reason why they have made it so far in this year's OHL Playoffs?
Looking at London's first powerplay unit, it is astounding the amount of talent they have to choose from. Easton Cowan, Denver Barkey, Oliver Bonk, Jacob Julien, and Kasper Halttunen make up the Knights first power play unit — and they are all NHL drafted prospects.
Each of those five players has the ability to create offence on their own, but when they are all put together, this unit is unstoppable. The Knights scored four power play goals against Oshawa in Game 2 of the OHL Finals, scoring on 50% of their opportunities on the man advantage.
Haltunnen, Julien, and Bonk are all tied for most playoff power play goals on the team with five each.
London is 33.3% on the power play overall in this year's OHL Playoffs, scoring on exactly one third of their power plays. If their opponent gives them a power play, the opposing team needs to be ready for the puck to end up in the back of their own net. London's power play has become a staple in their success, and they wouldn't be too far without it.
Shorthanded, the London Knights have the best penalty kill percentage in the OHL Playoffs at 82.4%. In the regular season, the "twins" Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey each had seven shorthanded goals — tied for most in the entire OHL.
Cowan and Barkey are staples on London's penalty kill, and their opponent always needs to be prepared for an attack the other way. The explosiveness and quickness of Cowan and Barkey in transition are lethal, and they will make their opponents pay with less defensive coverage against them.
London's special teams units have proven to be lethal throughout the entire regular season and into the playoffs, and these units are dominating the Oshawa Generals.
The Generals have the 12th best power play in this year's playoffs, and the 10th best penalty kill. These are not numbers that are going to win a championship, and London's special teams are a large reason why they are dominating so heavily in this series.
If Oshawa has any chance to get back in this series being down 2-0, they will have to find some success on their own special teams, or find a way to stop the Knights power play.