OHL playoff picture


By
March 10, 2017

Seven of the eight playoff spots are spoken for in the Western Conference of the Ontario Hockey League. But with less than two weeks remaining on the regular-season schedule, three playoff positions are still up for grabs in the Eastern Conference.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Saginaw Spirit just won’t go away.

The determined Spirit still has a shot at catching the Sarnia Sting for the eighth playoff spot.

With 5 games to play, Saginaw has 59 points, which is six fewer than Sarnia.

But Saginaw — which has won its last 3 starts — has a game in hand on Sarnia.

The odds are against the Spirit catching the Sting, especially considering the two teams do not play one another again this season.

But give credit to Saginaw rookie coach Spencer Carbery and the Spirit for refusing to pack it in.

Guelph Storm has already been eliminated from the playoffs and will finish last in the 10-team Western Conference.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Four teams are in a battle for the sixth, seventh and eighth spots.

Ottawa 67’s have 55 points from 63 games.

Sudbury Wolves have 53 points from 62 games.

North Bay Battalion has 52 points from 63 games.

Niagara IceDogs also have 52 points from 63 games.

Ottawa, North Bay and Niagara are all teams in rebuild mode.

And to be honest, Sudbury should not be in the predicament that it finds itself in at this stage of the season. The Wolves, who have added a number of veteran players with winning backgrounds since the season began, have lost 5 straight games and have a 1-8-1 record in their last 10 starts.

But as the other three teams — Ottawa, North Bay and Niagara — each have 5 games to play , Sudbury still has 6.

What could well define the season for both Sudbury and North Bay is a home-and-home series between the Wolves and Battalion on March 16 and 17.

Barrie Colts have already been eliminated from the playoffs and will finish last in the 10-team Eastern Conference.


What you think about “OHL playoff picture”

  1. Matsos is too soft on his players if you ask me.
    He is way to patient and nothing has been done about the number of penaltys that the Wolves take.

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