OHL playoff matchups are set
Playoffs in the Ontario Hockey League get underway this week with 16 teams beginning a quest that will lead one of them to the May 19-29 Memorial Cup tournament in Red Deer, Alberta.
Following is a quick take on the eight first-round playoff match-ups.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
ERIE V. SAGINAW — The Otters topped the Western Conference standings with 105 points, which was 59 more than the Spirit totaled. This series looms as the biggest mismatch of any of the first-round series. The only way Saginaw wins a game may be if goalie Evan Cormier steals one.
SARNIA V. SOO — The second-seeded Sting is a heavy favourite to eliminate the Greyhounds in five games, maybe six. But keep in mind that the Greyhounds won 19 games on the road with the best winning percentage in the West Division during the regular season.
LONDON V. OWEN SOUND — Another potential mis-match as the third-seeded Knights actually tied Erie for the most points in the OHL during the regular season. Led by 100-point men Christian Dvorak and Mitch Marner, the Knights should take care of the Attack in five games.
KITCHENER V. WINDSOR — Eight points separated the two teams during the regular season and home-ice advantage is what could be the difference for the Rangers over the Spitfires in this one.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
KINGSTON V. OSHAWA — The last time the Frontenacs won a playoff series was back in 1997-1998 when they defeated the Generals. The spring drought is about to end.
BARRIE V. MISSISSAUGA — The Colts were 18 points better than the Steelheads during the regular season. The Colts will be still be playing after the first round of the playoffs and the Steelheads won’t.
NORTH BAY V. PETERBOROUGH — 50-goal scorer Mike Amadio leads the Battalion into this series against the Petes, who drew the fewest fans in the OHL during the regular season. Thus, should the Petes lose this series, will anyone besides about 2,500 Peterborough fans even care?
NIAGARA V. OTTAWA — A year ago, the fifth-seeded Ice Dogs ousted the fourth-seeded 67’s in the first round of the playoffs. This year, the standings are reversed with Niagara seeded fourth and Ottawa fifth. The 67’s finished the regular season with six straight wins and despite having traded veteran star forwards Travis Konecny and Sam Studnicka to Sarnia earlier this season, Ottawa could be poised to return the favour and eliminate Niagara in the first round of this year’s playoffs.
Great work on the playoff preview
Ottawa vs Niagara – this will be the 5th playoff meeting between these 2 teams since 2003, when the Niagara Ice Dogs were the Mississauga Ice Dogs. Ottawa took the series in 5 games en route to the OHL finals. Six years later, the Niagara Ice Dogs in their second season in St. Catherines did the unthinkable and won the series in game 7 overtime. In 2010, the Ottawa 67’s disposed of the Ice Dogs in 5 games. Last spring, the 67’s went up 2-0 in the series winning games by 8 goals. However, the series shifted to St. Catherines and the 67’s came back to Ottawa with the series tied at 2 games a piece. Ottawa lost the important game 5 by a score of 7-3, and ultimately lost the series in 6 games.
Kind of insulting article, especially towards Petes fans. As a Steelheads fan, I hope we can at least pull of a win. It suck to be eliminated in the first round after the rebuilding season we’ve had.
Well stated article .. .. I like your style Randy Russon !