The Oshawa Generals lost Game 1 of the OHL Finals to the London Knights, exploiting their struggles without three of their top players.
8-1 was the final score of Game 1 of the OHL Finals, and the Oshawa Generals could not find a way to stop the bleeding. London was dominant in every facet of the game, and the Generals had no battle back for it.
Oshawa is playing with a very banged-up lineup, after their seven game series against the North Bay Battalion — a very physically draining opponent. The Generals were without three of their top players for Game 1 of the OHL Finals; Beckett Sennecke, Connor Punnett, and Matthew Buckley.
With draft eligible forward Beckett Sennecke, Oshawa is missing a large chunk of their offence. The duo of Calum Ritchie and Beckett Sennecke has been critical to Oshawa's success through these playoffs, and they provide a lot of the Generals offence.
Sennecke has 22 points in these playoffs — only behind Ritchie's 25 for most playoff points on the Generals roster. Oshawa was only able to muster up one goal against the green and gold, and Sennecke would add a huge boost in the attacking zone if he were to return in Game 2.
For the big, burly defenceman on the blue line, the Generals have also been without Connor Punnett. Punnett was acquired in a trade from the Barrie Colts ahead of the trade deadline, as the Generals were able to add an intimidating, veteran presence to their blue line.
He may not contribute so often on the scoreboard, but he is that tough, physical defenceman that every team needs in the postseason. Punnett has been out since Game 3 of the North Bay series, but he tried to return in Game 7. This return was unsuccessful, and Punnett was ruled out again for Game 1 against London.
Matthew Buckley is another forward that has been banged-up for quite some time. Buckley was injured in Game 4 of the North Bay series, returned for Game 6, but was ruled out again in Game 7 and in Game 1 against London.
Buckley was providing some sufficient secondary offence in the bottom-six for the Generals, and he is just another missing body that Oshawa has to fill in their lineup.
The Generals were clearly struggling without these three key-lineup players in Game 1 against London. Their status is still unknown heading into Game 2, but Oshawa will have to prepare to play without them.
If Oshawa is going to tie this series up in Game 2, they need to find a solution to stop the Knights offence. Jacob Oster was good — despite letting in eight — in Game 1, but he will need to steal a game or two if Oshawa is going to have a chance in this series.