Greyhounds over Rangers?
They are the underdogs in the eyes of most. But it says here that the Soo Greyhounds are more than capable of upending the Kitchener Rangers in the second round of the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.
In fact, I for one would not be surprised in the least if the no. 5 seed Greyhounds defeated the no. 1 seed Rangers in the best of seven Western Conference semi final.
To be sure, Kitchener is a good team. A very good one, actually, as evidenced by their 101 regular season points from a record of 47-14-7.
But the Greyhounds and their 84 regular season points from a record of 39-23-6 are damn good as well. Don’t be fooled by the 17 point differential between the two teams during the regular season. It says here that Kitchener overachieved with a 101 point regular season while the Soo underachieved with their 84 point total.
What was the difference? Most folks will probably say that Kitchener is a better coached team than the Soo. No argument there.
But games are played on the ice — playoff games especially? — and the Greyhounds as a team are every bit as good as the Rangers. And if the series is determined by goal tending, the Greyhounds most certainly have the edge with the world class Carter George between the pipes.
Home ice advantage?
Well, Kitchener has it for this series but let us not forget that in beating the London Knights four games to one in the opening round of the playoffs, the Greyhounds won all three games that they played in London. So, if the Greyhounds weren’t fazed by playing in front of a hostile crowd in London then they should not be rattled by the loudness and partisan gathering that goes with playing in Kitchener.
The Rangers, as they should be, are favoured by most pundits to win the series. And everyone associated with the Greyhounds will no doubt be happy to portray themselves as the underdogs.
But are they? Hmmmmm.
We can go on and on about the strengths that Kitchener has and how the Rangers added on ahead of the OHL trade deadline to acquire numerous impact players, including getting world class forward Sam O’Reilly from London.
But the Greyhounds. Ah, the Greyhounds. They added on as well by getting Lukas Fischer from the Sarnia Sting and Carter George from the Owen Sound Attack.
This is a Greyhounds team that I really do believe has what it takes to beat Kitchener — or anyone for that matter if it eventually comes to it. Simply put, I do not see a weakness in the Greyhound lineup that has been expertly put together by general manager Kyle Raftis.
The Hounds have impact players galore from aforementioned goalie Carter George and defensemen Lukas Fischer and hot dog Chase Reid to forwards Marco Mignosa and Brady Martin. (By the way, did Reid really have to celebrate a Soo goal right in front of the London bench in the Game 5 series clinching win over the Knights? Not sure about you but methinks that was an arrogant, bush league move on Reid’s part.)
Anyway, those who know me know that I am not a homer. Never have been. Never will be.
Having said that, don’t call me a homer by saying that if the Greyhounds beat Kitchener in the second round of these OHL playoffs, I will not be the least bit surprised. Not at all.
This is a series that I say goes six games. And there will be no surprise in whoever the victor will end up being.
None.
photo by Bob Davies
