WINDSOR, Ont. - Ryan Rupert scored two goals as the London 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), who won their fifth straight game. Anthony Stolarz made 21 saves in London's net.
Both teams played the game with a short lineup. 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 dressed just 15 skaters for the contest.
Jaroslav Pavelka made 36 in net for the Spitfires.
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 34 saves for the Spitfires.
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