Logan Mailloux and the Knights eliminate Filip Mesar and the Rangers

Over the past few months, one thing has become quite clear in the OHL: the London Knights are a real powerhouse in the circuit. Logan Mailloux’s team had quite a season, and clearly, we expected to see them make a run at the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Kitchener Rangers had a painful season. Filip Mesar was caught up in a toxic culture, but against all odds, they stunned Shane Wright and the Windsor Spitfires in the first round by sweeping them in four games. That said, after two games, the Knights were in complete control of the series, so much so that we wondered if it was going to end in four games. In the end, the Rangers will have been able to win game #3, but logic was finally respected: the Knights just won the series in five games.

8 DOWN. pic.twitter.com/QXFdAWDae0

– London Knights (@LondonKnights) April 21, 2023

The Knights now have an 8-1 record in the current series, and there’s no sign of an imminent slump. Goalie Brett Brochu is coming off back-to-back shutouts and the boys are scoring at a hellish pace.

It‘s worth noting that Mailloux,in addition to having a great defensive game, completed the scoring tonight in an empty net.

Logan Mailloux scores into an empty net. 4-0 London. pic.twitter.com/NgA9JyrKNp

– Mike Stubbs (@stubbs980) April 21, 2023

As for Mesar, it’s the end of a rollercoaster season for the team’s young Slovak hopeful. The question now is whether Mesar will join the Laval Rocket by tomorrow night. I don’t expect him to play in Game 2 of the series, but the CH may want to let him get acclimatized with the group, if only for one night.After all, it’s in Laval that I see Mesar spending the bulk of his time in 2023-24.

In short, it’s something to keep an eye on, but while Mailloux continues to make his way in the OHL, a different path could open up for Mesar as early as tomorrow. I can’t wait to see how the Tricolore will handle the matter.

Gossip

– Speaking of junior field hockey.

Mooseheads one win away from the Final Fourhttps://t.co/bsyjA71ERX–

RDS (@RDSca) April 21, 2023

– Owen Beck also scored in an empty net tonight, and his club is doing well, too.

Beck with the empty netter seals it for Peterborough. The Petes go up 3-1 in the series. I can’t say that was expected

– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) April 21, 2023

– Quite a performance from Morgan Rielly.

Morgan Rielly ties the #leafs franchise record among defenseman with four points in a playoff game. Ian Turnbull (1976), Allan Stanley (1960) and Wally Stanowski (1942) are the others to do it

– Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 21, 2023

– Once again tonight, it’s not glorious.