On the OHL’s biggest stage, San Jose Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen is shining. The London Knights lead the Oshawa Generals 3-0 in the best of seven series. The latest win was a comeback win last night that ended in double overtime.
Halttunen has played a big role in this championship series. While he was limited to a single assist in the team’s first win, an 8-1 drubbing of the Generals, he heated up in the second game.
Hatty for Halts
On May 11, Halttunen got in on the action, scoring three goals, including what would eventually become the game-winning goal in a 9-1 win over the Generals.
His first was a wrist shot on the power play. Halttunen has found consistent success on the man advantage no matter what level of competition. His second of the night was an easy tap-in goal thanks to hard work by 17-year-old Henry Brzustewicz. And Halttunen’s third goal once again showed off his deceptive release with a wrist shot from between the dots.
When Sharks make hats fly, they're named #OHLPerformer of the Night 🦈 🧢@SanJoseSharks prospect Kasper Halttunen scored 3⃣ and added an assist in Game 2 of the #OHLChampionship!@bastardburrito | @LondonKnights pic.twitter.com/46pGfoJrSs
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 12, 2024
Halttunen finished game two with three goals and an assist.
Back-to-back hat tricks
Then, last night, Halttunen helped his team rally. The Generals came out firing, obviously disappointed with being outscored in the series 17-2 leading into game three. Oshawa had a 4-1 lead in the second period when Halttunen scored his first of three goals on the night.
It was a quick-release shot that the announcers called an “NHL-release.” The goal pulled the Knights within one but didn’t decrease the drama. The Generals quickly responded with two more goals to take a commanding 6-2 lead into the third period.
That’s when the Knights, led in part by Halttunen, dug deep. Both he and Philadelphia Flyers prospect Oliver Bonk scored on power plays early in the third period to make the score 6-4. Halttunen then completed the hat trick with a deflection past Oshawa’s goaltender.
The Knights tied the game with just under three minutes left in the third period. Then, in double overtime, Halttunen’s work off the faceoff helped lead to the game-winning goal by Brzustewicz, who moved to forward from defense because of injuries. Brzustewicz won’t be draft-eligible until 2025.
Making it back-to-back hat tricks earns Kasper Halttunen #OHLPerformer of the Night honours 🌟
— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) May 14, 2024
The @SanJoseSharks prospect potted another 3 goals to help the @LondonKnights grab a 3-0 series lead!@bastardburrito | #OHLChampionship pic.twitter.com/L4zJ9mDr1q
For the second game in a row, Halttunen finished the night with three goals and an assist.
Halttunen dynamic in OHL playoffs
Halttuen now leads the OHL playoffs with 15 goals. Seven of those goals have come on the power play, and five of them are game-winning goals.
He has 23 points in 17 games this postseason.
The London Knights play game four tomorrow night.
