2012 MasterCard Memorial Cup: London Knights hope extra rest equals edge vs. Edmonton Oil Kings

SHAWINIGAN, Que. — Some extra Vitamin D did the London Knights some good on Monday. Now they need another form of it, Vitamin D for defence, in tonight's potential make-or-break MasterCard Memorial Cup game.

There are few evident differences between the Knights and Edmonton Oil Kings, who meet tonight at the MasterCard Memorial Cup (7 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, BTN livechat, Sportsnet/TVA Sports). Each club' identity is forged by tight defending and staunch goaltending from Michael Houser and Laurent Brossoit respectively. Each is smarting from a loss where it was outskated by a Quebec league club. Montreal Canadiens prospect Jarred Tinordi and the Knights, though, had Monday to stroll around downtown Trois-Rivières and take in some sun.

"The off-day was huge for us," said Tinordi, whose team lost 6-2 to Shawinigan on Sunday. "We needed that. Get away from the rink, get away from the hotel for a bit. We walked around downtown for a bit. You have to have a short memory. You can't sit around the hotel thinking about it all day. You start going a little crazy just sitting there in the room watching TV so it was good to get outside."

Edmonton, the home team, will likely try to match its veteran Jordan Peddle-Rhett Rachinski-T.J. Foster checking line against the Knights' scoring unit helmed by Tampa Bay Lightning first-rounder Vladislav Namestnikov.

For London, priority one is slowing down the Oil Kings' 105-point scorer, New York Rangers pick Michael St. Croix. A lot of the Oil Kings' offence comes from tic-tac-toeing the puck around the offensive zone rather than firing away from the point and looking for rebounds. The Knights' other top line, which includes bilious brothers Ryan and Matt Rupert, will likely match St. Croix's line.

"They have a good power play and he's a good sneaky player," Knights defenceman Scott Harrington says of St. Croix. "Niagara kind of does the same thing with the guy in the slot [variously Ryan Strome, Andrew Agozzino or Freddie Hamilton]. So we have experience with that."

The Oil Kings' main emphasis is on limiting turnovers. They had two at the offensive blueline in their 5-2 setback vs. Saint John on Monday that led directly to Sea Dogs goals.

London has taken apart many a team this season with its patient checking. It's been so daunting that the Kitchener Rangers spent a minute-plus in their own zone declining to attack during one OHL playoff game. But London doesn't just go by rote and throw the puck into a corner after taking it away; they often take off in transition. Edmonton has to avoid a repeat of Monday's mistakes.

"The first goal [Monday], we don't get the puck in at the blue line, they [the Sea Dogs] come down, they shoot one from the goal line, the puck goes in," Edmonton coach Derek Laxdal said. "The second one, we don't get the puck in at the blue line, they hit [Jonathan] Huberdeau on a breakaway and it makes it 2-1 ... I'm not going to blame it on the ice. I blame it on our stubbornness with not wanting to get pucks deep and establish a forecheck. We're playing a London team that thrives on turnovers so we better learn quick."

Brossoit, Houser, seek better fate

Another theme for tonight involves each team trying to do better by their goaltender. Edmonton's Laurent Brossoit shook off an early soft goal to keep the Oil Kings in the game for 58-plus minutes vs. Saint John. Sunday, Houser had several Cataractes goals go in off teammates or opponent's sticks.

"Houser's been good for us all playoffs and I thought he was good for us in that game," Knights centre Austin Watson said. "When they get two or three chances at rebounds there's not much even the best goalie in the CHL can do."

Knights wing Josh Anderson has been suffering from a bout of flu. London, with its deep roster, typically will take out any forward who's slightly ailing. Rookie Bo Horvat might draw into the lineup.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.