Earlier this season, the London Knights' penalty kill sunk to dead last in the Ontario Hockey League.

On Tuesday, it vaulted them into the Memorial Cup final.

Max Jones buried the shorthanded winner on a perfect pass from Mitch Marner late in the second period to spark a 5-2 victory over Rouyn-Noranda before 7,181 at Enmax Centrium and book a spot in Sunday's championship game for the third time in franchise history.

"I hope it's crazy in London," said Marner, who recorded four assists in the Knights' 16th straight playoff triumph. "It's nice to get a couple of days off (before the final)."

Jones doesn't play much with Marner.

But unlike every defenceman in junior hockey, he has him figured out.

So after hustling down the ice and forcing Huskies goalie Chase Marchand to mishandle the puck, he slipped it over to Marner and got his stick down.

"Once he pump-faked once, I knew he wasn't going to shoot," the 6-foot-3 power forward said. "I was behind the goal line and knew I had to get in an open position for Mitch to find me.

"I took one step, he found me and it was big."

The Knights finished the Cup round-robin with a perfect 3-0 record and have outscored their three opponents a combined 20-5 so far.

Marner has 13 points on those 20 goals. The tournament record is 16 and he hasn't been held to four points in any game here.

"My linemates (Christian Dvorak and Matthew Tkachuk) have been awesome," the Leafs prospect said. "We've stayed as a unit, stayed together, and they've really helped me out a lot."

The Knights didn't help themselves much in the penalty-filled affair.

They managed to kill off eight of Rouyn's 10 man-advantage situations -- the biggest a five-minute major to CJ Yakimowicz in the second for nailing young Huskies defender Zachary Lauzon from behind.

"The penalty kill was good," co-captain Christian Dvorak, who popped his Cup-leading sixth goal, said. "It can be better and we will have to work on it."

It will be the last time this year they have to worry about that pesky penalty kill.

After a grinding, no-pace tilt that ended up being the biggest nail-biter of the tournament, it looks like the Knights can use the four-day break.

"I do," London d-man Jacob Graves said. "I'm an old man. I'm an overager. I may need a cold tub."

Tkachuk limped around after falling awkwardly late in the second, but he returned in the third and ended up scoring his second goal into an empty net.

He wouldn't say if he re-aggravated the lower leg injury he suffered in the league final against Niagara.

"I can't talk about that," he said.

Jones, though, is starting to find his footing at the perfect time. He looks more at ease after missing a month-and-a-half serving a 12-game suspension during the playoffs.

"The two games (back) in the (league) final, I was just kicking off rust," the 18-year-old said. "First game here, I was really excited and just creating things and making things happen and playing the body. I thought I was back on my game.

"Bounces just didn't go my way, but it showed against Brandon (Monday)."

Now, he will be at top gear for the biggest game of his life.

"Even though he was rusty those final two games of the OHL final, he still played phenomenal for us," linemate Cliff Pu said. "At the Cup, he has risen to his best again and showing what kind of player he is.

"He's lighting it up on the big stage."

The Huskies hung around and made it close in the third with a weird one that required video review.

Timo Meier's shot slipped under the net lifted when London goalie Tyler Parsons' skate lifted up the post.

"I didn't know it went in," he said. "I call it a ghost goal."

Still, it wasn't enough for the Quebec champs, who must wait until after the Brandon-Red Deer game Wednesday to find out if they're in the semifinal or a tiebreaker.

Once again, London scored two early goals and topped its foes a combined 9-0 in the opening 20 minutes this week.

Their power play finished 3-for-7 and is now 9-for-20 here.

They are truly a special team on an unbelievable run.

Now, there is just one game left.

rpyette@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/RyanatLFPress

MEMORIAL CUP

Knights 5, Huskies 2

London goals: Matthew Tkachuk (2), JJ Piccinich, Max Jones, Christian Dvorak

Rouyn-Noranda goals: Timo Meier (2)

Next: Brandon faces Red Deer Wednesday, 8 p.m. (ET) at the Centrium. The Knights advance to Sunday's final.

98th Memorial Cup

Red Deer, Alta.

Tuesday At Enmax Centrium

3 Stars

1. Max Jones, Knights. Back in business.

2. Mitch Marner, Knights. Pretty passing.

3. Timo Meier, Huskies. Multi-goal game.

First period

1. London, Piccinich 2 (Dvorak, Marner) 6:06 (pp)

Bounced in off Huskies D.

2. London, Tkachuk 2 (Juolevi, Marner) 17:43 (pp)

Tipped in front.

Penalties– Waked, Rou (roughing) 0:09, Juolevi, Ldn (holding) 2:52, Lauzon, Rou (roughing) 4:52, Yakimowicz, Ldn (slashing) 7:24, Caron, Rou (cross-checking), Jones, Ldn (diving) 8:53, Greer, Rou (slashing) 13:42, Tkachuk, Ldn (hooking) 14:27, Greer, Rou (checking from behind) 16:25, MacDonald, Ldn (slashing) 18:54. Meier, Rou (roughing) 19:15.

Second period

3. Rouyn, Meier 4 (Waked, Myers) 10:04 (pp)

Floated it high.

4. London, Jones 2 (Marner) 17:28 (sh)

Nice hustle, beauty feed.

Penalties– London, bench (too many men, served by Juolevi) 0:52, Yakimowicz, Ldn (checking from behind major, game misconduct) 3:24, Piccinich, Ldn (tripping) 9:23, J. Lauzon (elbowing) 11:00, Graves, Ldn (slashing) 16:25.

Third Period

5. London, Dvorak 6 (Tkachuk, Mete) 6:20 (pp)

More quick passing.

6. Rouyn, Meier 5 (Waked, Myers) 8:42 (pp)

Went under the net.

7. London, Tkachuk 3 (Marner) 18:29 (en)

Salted it away.

Penalties-- Marner, Ldn (cross-checking) 1:22, Mete, Ldn (high-sticking) 3:30, Myers, Rou (hooking) 4:24, Martenet, Ldn (high-sticking) 2:00, Waked, Rou (high-sticking) 8:42.

Shots on goal by

Rouyn-Noranda 9 12 11—32

London 9 7 9—25

Goal: Rouyn-Noranda: Marchand (L, 1-2). London: Parsons (W, 3-0).

Power plays (goals-chances): Rou 2-10. Ldn 3-7.

Referees– Scott Ferguson, Olivier Gouin. Linesmen– Kelsey Mahoney, Nathan Van Oosten.