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Back in 2005, Memorial Cup champ Corey Perry led the Knights with 11 goals and 38 points in 18 post-season games.

“McDavid was on a good line last year, too,” said an NHL scout, who has watched both top guns play extensively throughout their OHL careers. “But with London, when those three guys play like they don’t care who scores, the better it is for them. When no one cares who gets the credit, you usually do better as a team, and then everybody gets the credit.

“That (Knights) line seems to be in the zone right now.”

Before this series started, Marner made it clear he thought the squad that played the best defence would advance.

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Marner is plus-20 in the playoffs so far.

“He’s been excellent,” the scout said. “He does a lot of things on the defensive side of the puck he doesn’t get credit for. He blocks shots, kills penalties and back-checks hard.

“He’s a good defensive player, but all anyone talks about is his scoring.”

The Kitchener Rangers, torched by London’s big line in the second round, were amazed by Marner’s performance late in games. They never saw him look out of gas and that’s because the Knight has the endurance of a marathon runner.

“He just keeps going,” the scout said. “It’s great to have that stamina because, up here (in the NHL), it’s an 82-game grind. The more you can play your ‘A’ game, the better. Some guys just get worn out mentally and physically.

“This is a good test for all these junior guys to see who can play through the grind.”

Erie coach Kris Knoblauch tried to throw some checking units at London’s top line, but it’s become clear his best chance will be to match power against power.

The Otters have one of the top lines in junior hockey with captain Dylan Strome, Alex DeBrincat and Taylor Raddysh.

“No one (across the CHL) is close to these two lines right now,” the scout said. “When they’re both out there, it’s end-to-end and that many good players on the ice, it makes it fun. You probably have six future NHLers out there going head-to-head and it’s exciting.”

The London Free Press