Blake Montgomery and his London Knights teammates endured a chaotic third period but ultimately held off a determined Oshawa Generals side to secure a thrilling 7-5 victory in Game 3 of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Championship Series at the Tribute Communities Centre. The win gives the Knights a crucial two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven final.
The Knights appeared to be cruising to victory after establishing a commanding 5-1 lead heading into the final period. However, the resilient Generals, spurred on by their home crowd, mounted a furious comeback, clawing their way back to within a single goal with significant time still remaining on the clock. The atmosphere in the Tribute Communities Centre became electric as Oshawa threatened to complete an improbable turnaround.
But the Knights, showing composure under pressure, managed to weather the storm and ultimately added two more goals to seal the victory. Kasper Halttunen was the offensive catalyst for London, recording an impressive hat trick, while the in-form Easton Cowan continued his stellar playoff campaign with a brace of goals and an assist.
Despite the final scoreline, the Generals came out firing in front of their passionate home support, registering the first six shots of the game. However, the Knights proved clinical in their early opportunities, scoring the opening two goals to silence the home crowd momentarily.
The series now takes on added significance as London and Oshawa face each other again on back-to-back nights. Game 4 of the OHL Championship is scheduled for tonight, Tuesday, May 13th, at 7 p.m. at the Tribute Communities Centre. With the Knights holding the series lead, the Generals will be desperate to level the score on home ice, setting the stage for another potentially thrilling encounter.
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