If you find a scouting report on Connor McMichael of the London Knights, it will talk about the many things that he can do well on the ice.
On Friday night in Kitchener, McMichael put many of those things on display as he scored three goals and added an assist in a 5-1 Knights victory over the Rangers.
All of that happened in the second period alone. McMichael scored on a wrist shot, a slap shot and a deflection on a beautiful feed from Ryan Merkley.
“He kind of reminds me of [Evan Bouchard] just the way he can find you when it’s not looking like there’s too many plays to be made,” McMichael said after the game when asked about the Merkley pass.
McMichael also created a pretty play for linemate Jonathan Gruden for a tap-in at the edge of the Kitchener crease.
The Washington Capitals prospect hit 50 points on the season and extended his point streak to 13 games as the Knights handed the Rangers their ninth loss in their last 11 games.
Conversely London has compiled a 10-1-1 record over that same span of time.
McMichael believes that a couple of things have played into that success.
“I think getting [Liam] Foudy back, adding Merkley and we have been doing quite a bit of team bonding.”
London is one point behind the Guelph Storm for first place in the Midwest Division. Guelph won their tenth game in a row on Friday when they shut out the Sarnia Sting 3-0.
Luke Evangelista scored the Knights first goal of the game. Gruden ended the game with a goal and two assists. Merkley had three assists, giving him five points in his last two games. McMichael has seven points in those games and leads the OHL in points and points per game.
Brett Brochu picked up the win in goal for the Knights as he stopped 32 of 33 shots.
