A Pair of London Knights Receive Five Game Suspensions in the OHL Playoffs; Kaleb Lawrence & Landon Sim

The London Knights have been bitten with the suspension-bug once again, as two of their players have received five game suspensions.

The London Knights lost Game 5 to the Saginaw Spirit, as their series lead dwindles down to just one game at 3-2. In the midst of Game 5, there were two suspendable actions that the OHL took action on.

Both Kaleb Lawrence and Landon Sim have been suspended for five games, ruling them out of the rest of this series, with the potential to return in the middle of the OHL Finals — if London makes it this far.

These are two big holes for the Knights to fill in their lineup — and they will have to fill them for five games. Lawrence and Sim are two players who play with a large physical edge. They don't shy away from making dirty plays or taking cheap shots either, and that is what has made them threats in the postseason thus far.

For Kaleb Lawrence, his suspension was due to a cross-check to the head of Saginaw defender Zayne Parekh. This is a cross check that was targeted high at the head of Parekh, and there is really no way of defending a play like this for Lawrence.

For Lawrence, this hit came in his return to the lineup for the Knights — as he had another five game suspension that he was serving previously. This was a result of another high hit for the 6-foot-7 centreman, as he is gaining a reputation through this postseason.

For Landon Sim, his suspension was reportedly due to something he said to an official or opposing player. This action was clearly bad enough for the OHL to suspend him for five games, and the energetic, physical forward will be out for the next five games for London.

Sim plays a big role in their lineup. He can play up and down all four lines for the London Knights, and they will certainly miss him for these five games. Sim is a player that can play with the high-end skilled guys like Easton Cowan and Denver Barkey, and ensure that they don't get dominated physically.

The London Knights are still up 3-2 in this series, but the fourth win always seems to be the toughest. The Spirit have a group that won't give up anytime soon, and London should be prepared for a battle to earn that fourth win.

London has been beating Saginaw with their ability to out-work and beat them physically. Without Lawrence and Sim, this will be a tougher feat.