Marner, Dvorak Lead Stacked London Knights Offence

Over this 5-game winning streak, the Knights have outshot their opponents 198-130, and are averaging almost 38 shots per game. They also have the most potent power-play in the OHL, at 31.1%. Just from watching them set up on the power-play, it's mesmerizing to see the comfort and confidence with which they cycle the puck. If every player on the ice can score, it makes it a lot easier to wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. If you're more interested in advanced stats, they're in favour of the Knights as well. London leads the league in Fenwick close, with 56.6% (courtesy of CHLStats.com).

It may have been a game against the last-place Guelph Storm, but the London Knights continued to roll on Friday night as they dominated their way to an impressive 10-4 statement victory. The Knights extended their winning streak to five games – a stretch in which they’ve outscored their opponents 38-9. The game was comfortable from the start for London, as they scored 3 goals on their first 3 shots, putting them well in front after just 2:12. Although they sit only fourth in the OHL’s Western Conference (finding themselves in a very tough division alongside the Windsor Spitfires and Kitchener Rangers), make no mistake: the Knights are a veritable force to be reckoned with this season. The ridiculously stacked London Knights offence could possibly be enough to lead them to a championship.

Fans of the Arizona Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs rejoice: London’s tandem of Christian Dvorak (2014 Coyotes 2nd-rounder) and Mitch Marner (2015 Leafs first-rounder) are one of the most dangerous duos in all of Canadian junior hockey right now. Dvorak has scored 8 goals over the last 4 games (5 of which came in one game last weekend in Guelph), a large part of his 13 total as he has been incredibly hot recently. There’s certainly a direct correlation between his offensive breakout and coach Dale Hunter’s line-juggling to put Dvorak and Marner together. Adding his 19 assists to his goal total, Dvorak’s 32 points put him third in the OHL scoring race.

Playing on Dvorak’s wing, not enough can be said about Mitch Marner. He currently has 31 points in just 15 games, including 2 goals and 3 assists in Friday’s blowout win. His points-per-60 minutes stat is 4.18, His scoring and skating abilities are perfectly complemented by his knack for reading the play. At times it almost seems like he’s the luckiest player on the ice, considering how often he “just happens” to be in the right place at the right time. Much of that is, of course down to the on-ice relationship he has developed with his Knights teammates. “It’s pretty easy to play with the two guys [Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk] I’m playing with; everyone’s getting used to each other now,” he said after the game on Friday. “It’s nice to have some chemistry out there.” This season, Marner has bloomed into arguably the best player in the OHL – at the very least, it’s a close race between him and Erie’s Dylan Strome.

London’s forward lineup is by far the most productive in the OHL. Their 96 goals for (and +47 goal differential) is top of the league, and it’s not even close. “Our offence is incredible,” noted goaltender Emanuel Vella, “it does take a lot of pressure of you.” In addition to boasting two blue-chip prospects in Marner and Dvorak, the Knights are bolstered by Matthew Tkachuk and Max Jones, who are both projected to be top-10 (potentially top-5) picks in the upcoming 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Beyond the obvious stars, they have depth players like J.J. Piccinich (another Maple Leafs prospect) and Kole Sherwood (a Columbus pick), and Aaron Berisha (an over-ager) who have demonstrated that they too have a scoring touch. As such, no Knights player ranks in the top 20 in the OHL for percentage of their team’s goals created.

Over this 5-game winning streak, the Knights have outshot their opponents 198-130, and are averaging almost 38 shots per game. They also have the most potent power-play in the OHL, at 31.1%. Just from watching them set up on the power-play, it’s mesmerizing to see the comfort and confidence with which they cycle the puck. If every player on the ice can score, it makes it a lot easier to wait for the perfect opportunity to strike. If you’re more interested in advanced stats, they’re in favour of the Knights as well. London leads the league in Fenwick close, with 56.6% (courtesy of CHLStats.com).

The Knights are certainly on a hot streak right now, but show no signs of letting up any time soon. “It’s all the little things that are why we’re winning right now,” said Marner when asked for his assessment of the team’s game, “Buying into the systems, making sure we’re not taking stupid penalties, capitalizing on the power-play.” Dvorak’s answer to a similar question was much simpler: “we’re using our speed.”

Right now, despite the standings, one would not be out of line in saying the Knights may be the best team in the OHL. However, they have some very tough tests coming up that will truly determine whether or not this is a team that can make a deep run into the OHL Playoffs and Memorial Cup. The next three games are crucial. Saturday night in Erie to play the Otters, and then back-to-back home games next weekend against the reigning Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals, followed by the first place Kitchener Rangers. If the Knights can meet the challenge, they will prove that they’re a serious contender. When asked if he’s keeping tabs on London’s division rivals, Mitch Marner’s response was a definitive no. “We just want to play our game. We’re Knights hockey. We’re not Erie hockey or Kitchener hockey. We’re London hockey.” You can certainly see why he’s a fan favourite (although the scoring helps).