Cowan lifts Knights to Memorial Cup final with win over Spirit

Easton Cowan enjoyed a moment he had long dreamed of on Wednesday night.

He scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period and added an empty-netter to help the London Knights book their ticket to Sunday's Memorial Cup final with a 4-2 victory over the Saginaw Spirit.

Cowan took a feed from Sam O'Reilly and beat Spirit goaltender Andrew Oke on the glove side with 1:25 left in regulation time. His insurance goal came with 22 seconds left.

The go-ahead marker also served as a breakthrough moment for Cowan, who was the Ontario Hockey League's most outstanding player in the regular season and the OHL playoff MVP. The Toronto Maple Leafs prospect hadn't scored at the Memorial Cup before Wednesday.

"I thought I was getting my chances throughout the first couple of games, couldn't really find my legs there and felt like in that third period, I really got back to my game, forechecking and stops and starts," Cowan said. "Felt good to get that one in."

"He's got the skill and will," head coach Dale Hunter added of Cowan. "He's a good skater, knows the game and pushes through. It's hard skating out there, both teams went with three lines, so it's a battle, lots of ice time for the guys."

EASTON COWAN IS CLUTCH!!!!!<a href="https://twitter.com/MapleLeafs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MapleLeafs</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeafsForever?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeafsForever</a> <a href="https://t.co/MRpnXD0kMB">pic.twitter.com/MRpnXD0kMB</a>

Kasper Halttunen and Denver Barkey each had a goal and an assist for London. Cowan also had an assist and Michael Simpson made 26 saves.

The Spirit will play Western Hockey League champion Moose Jaw in Friday's semifinal. The Warriors topped the Drummondville Voltigeurs 5-3 on