54 games! Easton Cowan extends stunning point streak in road win

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The Ottawa 67’s are the only thing standing between Easton Cowan and Ontario Hockey League history.

The London Knights star’s regular-season point streak reached 54 games with an assist in a wild 6-5 victory over the Saginaw Spirit before 3,865 Saturday at the Dow Event Center. He can match Maple Leafs legend Doug Gilmour (55 straight games with a point as a Cornwall Royal in 1982-83) against the Barber Poles Sunday (4 p.m.) at Canada Life Place.

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The league has already indicated it will continue to celebrate Cowan’s incredible run, but won’t officially recognize it because it hasn’t occurred over the course of a single season.

The Toronto first-rounder had a point in 36 straight games last year and has tacked on 18 more games this fall since being returned to London by the Maple Leafs.

The Knights built up a four-goal cushion in the third period on Saturday night, but had to hold off a late three-goal Saginaw surge for their 14th consecutive win.

The Spirit scored twice on a five-minute power play and another one with their goaltender pulled for an extra attacker after Knights forward Ryder Boulton was assessed a major penalty for slashing reigning OHL top defenceman Zayne Parekh.

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Earlier in the game, London forward Kasper Halttunen was ejected after a checking from behind major against Saginaw d-man James Guo. Neither Saginaw blue-liner was injured on those penalties.

London defenceman Sam Dickinson was in on every London tally with a goal and a stunning six-point performance. The Sharks prospect continues to lead the club with 38 points in just 20 games.

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Knights goaltender Aleksei Medvedev earned his ninth win and stood tall, especially in the third when London was outshot 20-5. Blake Montgomery opened the scoring with his first OHL goal in his sixth game since leaving the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League.

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OHL HOCKEY

Knights 6, Spirit 5
London goals: Blake Montgomery, Sam Dickinson, Denver Barkey, Jesse Nurmi, Will Nicholl, Sam O’Reilly
Saginaw goals: Joey Willis (3), Jacob Cloutier, Zayne Parekh
Next: The Knights face Ottawa Sunday, 4 p.m. at Canada Life Place.

Saturday at The Dow Event Center

Knights 6, Spirit 5

First period
1., London, Montgomery 1 (Dickinson, Sim) 11:31
2. Saginaw, Cloutier 5 (Parekh, Hay) 18:42
Penalties – Saginaw, bench (too many men) 12:27, Glavin, Sag (delay of game) 19:05.

Second period
3. London, Dickinson 13 (Cowan, Brzustewicz) 11:52 (pp)
4. Saginaw, Willis 14 (Parekh, Misa) 15:46
5. London, Barkey 3 (Dickinson, Brzustewicz) 18:39
Penalties – Nurmi, Ldn (tripping) 3:22, Halttunen, Ldn (checking from behind major, game misconduct) 6:43, Parekh, Sag (interference) 10:37, Van Gorp, Ldn (tripping) 12:14.

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Third period
6. London, Nurmi 3 (Van Bommel, Dickinson) 4:06
7. London, Nicholl 8 (O’Reilly, Dickinson) 8:31
8. London, O’Reilly 5 (Nicholl) 11:03
9. Saginaw, Willis 15 (Parekh, Misa) 15:02 (pp)
10. Saginaw, Willis 16 (Mangone, Misa) 17:01 (pp)
11. Saginaw, Parekh 8 (Willis, Mangone) 19:51
Penalties – Julien, Ldn (tripping) 10:27, Boulton, Ldn (slashing major, game misconduct) 13:24.

Shots on goal by
London 10 8 5–23
Saginaw 9 10 20–39

Power plays: Ldn 1-3. Sag 2-5.

Goalies: Medvedev, Ldn (W, 9-2). Oke, Sag (L, 11-9).

Referees – Mac Nichol, Kevin McArthur. Linesmen – Joseph Erickson, Jordan Hurtubise.

Attendance – 3,865.

Three stars: 1. Sam Dickinson, Knights; 2. Joey Willis, Spirit; 3. Sam O’Reilly, Knights

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