News Release

LONDON AVOIDS ELIMINATION IN 5-2 VICTORY OVER PLYMOUTH

PLYMOUTH – The London Knights received 50 saves from first star Steve Mason and Sam Gagner added two goals and an assist and the Knights staved off elimination in a 5-2 victory over the Plymouth Whalers in an Ontario Hockey League playoff game played Tuesday night before 3,390 at the Compuware Sports Arena.

Plymouth now leads the best-of-seven Western Conference Final series three-games-to-one, with Game 5 in London on Thursday.

Patrick Kane scored a goal and two assists for London, while Josh Beaulieu and David Meckler added singles. Plymouth got goals from Evan Brophey (7) and Steve Ward (1).

Brophey scored the only goal of the first period when he snapped home a shot past Mason from the right circle at 17:06 on a two-man Plymouth advantage.

But London came back with three unanswered goals in the second period to lead 3-1 after forty minutes. Gagner scored on a power play through traffic in the slot at 4:50 of the period to tie the game at 1-1 and Kane scored on a partial breakaway at 7:26 to given London its first lead at 2-1. Gagner’s game-winner came at 16:07 of the period when he shot the puck from the penalty box area and the puck bounced crazily past Plymouth goaltender Michal Neuvirth.

Beaulieu increased London’s lead to 4-1 on another power play goal at 10:39 of the third period on a rebound. Ward scored his first of the playoffs at 14:23 on the power play with a hard shot from the high slot.  Meckler completed the scoring with 51 seconds left in regulation with an empty net goal.

Plymouth outshot London, 52-45, and Mason played his best game of the series.

Tickets for the series are available by calling the Compuware Sports Arena at (734) 453-8400 or by going to Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

PLYMOUTH-LONDON WESTERN CONFERENCE FINAL DATES

Game 5 - Thursday, April 26th - Plymouth at London at 7 p.m.

If necessary:

Game 6 - Saturday, April 28th - London at Plymouth at 7:05 p.m.
Game 7 - Sunday, April 29th - Plymouth at London at 6 p.m.