Owen Beck was out of Peterborough’s lineup on a two-game suspension after slew-footing on Friday night in Game Five. The Petes dressed 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the game.
Both teams were cautious to start the first period, waiting for each other to make a mistake. The Petes drew a penalty after a whistle to go on the power play just under eight minutes into the game. J.R. Avon had a chance to make a one-time shot in front of London goalie Owen Willmore but could not get his stick on the puck to keep the game scoreless. London had their own chance on a one-timed shot on the power play but the puck went too high. The score remained 0-0 after the first period. Shots were in favour of Peterborough, 20-10.
London tried to score one early in the second, getting the first five shots on net. On their first power play of the period, the Knights almost scored again with a wide-open net but a Petes defender was able to block the shot.
Peterborough had excellent forechecking 13 minutes in as they turned over the puck in the offensive zone. A pass went to Avery Hayes and with patience, he backhanded it past Willmore for a 1-0 lead to break the deadlock.
Peterborough threatened again on the power play as Brennan Othmann seemingly had a breakaway from a long stretch pass. He wired it past Willmore but the goal did not count as the play was deemed offside. The score remained 1-0 going into the second. Donovon McCoy was hit with a roughing penalty so the Petes had to start the third period shorthanded. London had 13 shots to Peterborough’s 11.
The Knights started with a power play but were unable to capitalize. Both teams struggled with an extra man during the game. Peterborough was 0/3 while London was 0/4.
London on a dump-in was able to generate numbers. A few bounces got the puck to Max McCue’s stick and he buried it past Petes’ goaltender Michael Simpson for a 1-1 tie, eight minutes into the period. Peterborough responded just over three minutes later as Donovan McCoy fired a point shot and found Tucker Robertson’s stick on a deflection for a much-needed Peterborough goal and a 2-1 lead (the goal was originally Robertson’s, changed to McCoy’s then back to Robertson’s after further review).
“We never had a doubt in our mind that we were going to win,” said Robertson.
London had to push to tie the game with a few minutes left. They sustained pressure in the offensive zone but Simpson and the Petes stood tall and hung on for the 2-1 win and the OHL Championship.
“I tried to keep that one-goal lead but credit to our team, there were some huge blocks to keep that lead,” said Simpson.
