OHL Roundup: Rupert scored twice as Knights defeat Spitfires 5-2

Ryan Rupert helped carry the short-handed London Knights to their fifth straight victory.

Rupert scored two goals as the Knights defeated the Windsor Spitfires 5-2 Thursday in Ontario Hockey League action.

Bo Horvat, Alex Broadhurst and Max Domi had the other goals or the Knights (44-12-4). Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves in London's net.

The Knights were without leading scorer Seth Griffith — out with a broken hand — and team captain Scott Harrington (upper body injury). Matt Rupert also missed the contest to begin serving a 10-game suspension he incurred earlier this week.

Ben Johnson and Kerby Rychel, with his team-leading 36th goal of the season, replied for the Spitfires (24-30-7) who were also shorthanded, dressing just 15 skaters for the contest.

Tied 2-2 going into the final period, the Knights scored three in a row on goals by Broadhurst, Rupert, on the power play, and Domi with an empty-netter.

The Spitfires, who have played 18 straight games under the league-maximum, 20-player limit due to a combination of player injuries and suspensions, also sat out overage forward Emerson Clark and second-year defenceman John Bowen for team disciplinary reasons.

The Spits dressed nine forwards and six defencemen in addition to two goaltnders against the league-leading Knights.

Jaroslav Pavelka made 36 in net for the Spitfires.

Elsewhere in the OHL, it was: Plymouth 7 Niagara 1; Peterborough 4 Ottawa 3 (SO); and Barrie 4 Owen Sound 2.

Whalers 7 IceDogs 1

At St. Catharines, Ont., Cody Payne had a goal and two assists as the Plymouth Whalers (35-17-9) hammered the Niagara IceDogs for their ninth win in 10 games.

---

Colts 4 Attack 2

At Barrie, Ont., Andreas Athanasiou had a goal and an assist Thursday as the Colts (38-19-4) defeated the Owen Sound Attack (38-18-4) to pull within four points of idle Belleville for first place in the Eastern Conference.

---

Petes 4 67's 3 (SO)

At Peterborough, Ont., Jonatan Tanus scored short-handed in the third period to force overtime and got the winner in the shootout as the Petes (22-32-7) beat the Ottawa 67's (15-41-5).