London Knights take Game One of Western Conference semi-final against Kitchener

The London Knights, a junior ice hockey team based in London, Ontario, Canada, kicked off their second-round series in the Western Conference playoffs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) against their archrivals, the Kitchener Rangers, with a triumphant victory in Game 1. The thrilling contest took place on March 29, 2023, at Budweiser Gardens in London.

The first period saw both teams displaying impressive offensive skills and tenacity, resulting in three goals being scored. The London Knights took an early lead when forward Alex DeBrincat netted his first goal of the game at 4:42, assisted by teammates Connor McMichael and Evan Bouchard. However, the Kitchener Rangers responded quickly with goals from Adam Mascherin and Riley Damiani at 8:26 and 16:28, respectively.

The second period was dominated by the London Knights, who outscored the Rangers 3-0. DeBrincat added another goal at 4:44, this time assisted by McMichael and Bouchard. Forward Liam Foudy extended the lead at 8:42, and defenseman Jamie Drysdale sealed the period's scoring at 17:46.

In the third period, the Kitchener Rangers attempted to mount a comeback, scoring one goal from Mascherin at 6:24. However, the London Knights held strong and prevented any further damage, securing their 5-3 victory.

Goaltender Tyler Parsons made 28 saves to earn the win for the London Knights, while the Rangers' goaltender Mario Culina stopped 26 shots in a losing effort. The victory gave the London Knights an early lead in the best-of-seven series and set the stage for an intense and exciting battle between these two longtime rivals.

This triumphant start to the series marked an important milestone for the London Knights as they continued their quest for the OHL championship. The team's impressive offensive display and solid defensive play left fans and analysts alike eagerly anticipating the next game in this highly anticipated playoff matchup.