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OTTERS WATCH: Otters face tough test in pursuit of 4th straight West finals berth

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Western Conference semifinals, Game 6
No. 1 Erie Otters (7-2-0) at No. 4 London Knights (6-4-2)
When: Sunday, 6 p.m.
Where: Budweiser Gardens — London, Ontario
On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)
What to watch: The Otters can clinch a fourth straight berth in the conference finals with a win in their first Game 6 since the 2015 West finals against Sault Ste. Marie. The Otters have won 2-of-3 series all-time when leading 3-2 (won Game 6 in 2000 West quarterfinals vs. Brampton and 2002 West semifinals vs. London, lost Games 6 and 7 in 2000 West semifinals vs. Sault Ste. Marie).
* Both series in the West can end Sunday, as Owen Sound takes a 3-2 series lead into Game 6 at home against Sault Ste. Marie. Both series in the East ended earlier this week, with top-seeded Peterborough and No. 2 Mississauga opening the finals Thursday.
* The Otters are in this position because they won a Game 5 at home for the 11th time in 12 tries in franchise history.
* Otters C Dylan Strome (7 goals, 8 assists, 15 points) scored his first goal of the series — and first in nine playoff games against the Knights dating back to the 2015 West semifinals — in the Game 5 win Saturday. After the game, Strome confirmed he has battled the flu in this series. “It’s no excuse. I know I needed to be better,” he said. “Guys are playing through injuries and sicknesses or whatever. I’m just another guy on the team. … I could have been better the first couple games. But we’ve got a 3-2 lead.”
* Otters head coach Kris Knoblauch didn’t completely rule out starting backup Joseph Murdaca, who made 13 saves on 13 shots in relief of Troy Timpano (3 goals on 10 shots) in Game 5. “As well as Joe played tonight, Troy is our starter,” Knoblauch said. “It’s probably a decision we’ll make (Sunday) morning. If given the nod, it would be Murdaca’s first career postseason start.
* The Knights face elimination in Game 6 for the second straight round. They beat Windsor 5-3 on the road in Game 6 of the opening round, and followed that with a 3-2 win in Game 7 on home ice. The Knights are 3-0 in elimination games in this postseason.
* If the Knights are to stay alive, they need a big game from C Cliff Pu, who led the club in scoring in the regular season (35-51-86), but has produced only one goal and four assists in 12 playoff games and two points in this series. C Janne Kuokkanen (8-5-13) and LW Max Jones (7-4-11) have scored the Knights’ last eight goals in the series.
Up next: Game 7 vs. London (Tuesday, 7 p.m.)*
* If necessary

– Victor Fernandes

Series schedule
No. 1 Erie vs. No. 4 London
Otters lead series 3-2
Game 1 — London 2, Erie 0
Game 2 — Erie 5, London 1
Game 3 — Erie 3, London
Game 4 — London 4, Erie 2
Game 5 — Erie 6, London 3
Game 6 — Sunday at London, 6 p.m.
Game 7 — Tuesday at Erie, 7 p.m.*
* If necessary


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