The London Knights live to see another day.

The reigning Memorial Cup champions had their backs against the wall in Round One of the OHL playoffs, trailing the Soo Greyhounds three games to none heading into Wednesday night.

Up to that point, 20-year-old netminder Sebastian Gatto had carried the load. That came as little surprise, as the former Chilliwack Chief had taken over the starting role midway through the 2025–26 season and posted a strong 24-8-2 record heading into the postseason. But with the series slipping away, and Gatto seeing back-to-back overtime losses and a double-overtime marathon the night prior, the Knights needed a spark.

Cue Aleksei Medvedev.

The Vancouver Canucks’ 2025 second-round pick had yet to appear in an OHL playoff game. Despite being part of a Memorial Cup-winning roster in 2025, he had never been called upon in the postseason. That changed in Game 4, as head coach Dale Hunter turned to the 18-year-old in a must-win situation.

After settling in with a handful of early saves, Medvedev surrendered a tough goal in the first period. Biting on an initial shot, he overcommitted and found himself stuck in the crease before a wraparound beat him scrambling. It was a goal that resembled many during Medvedev’s recent struggles, but it would be the only blemish.

From there, Medvedev shut the door and stopped the next 20 shots he faced, giving the Knights the stability they needed to generate offence of their own and secure a 4-1 victory. It marks the team’s first win of the 2026 postseason and Medvedev’s first career OHL playoff victory. The 25 save performance also earned him the OHL’s Third Star of the night.

Despite posting incredible numbers in the first half of the 2025-26 campaign, the Russian netminder struggled through the 2026 half of the year. He finished the regular season with a 16-15-3 record, with a .891 save percentage.

The series shifts back to London for Game 5, where Medvedev has put himself in a position to earn a second consecutive start and potentially seize control of the crease. Game 5 is set for Friday, April 3, at 4:00 PM at Canada Life Place in London, Ontario.