Fill out your bracket, OHL playoffs begin tonight

The OHL playoffs begin tonight with Barrie at Sudbury.

Here are some thoughts and predictions (for what they’re worth) on every series heading into the post season.

 

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Guelph Storm vs. (8) Plymouth Whalers

Guelph is simply too much for Plymouth.

In fact, they’re too much for most teams. The Storm won the season series 3-1 outscoring the Whalers 22-10 over four games. The Whalers win came in the first meeting between the teams this season on November 8th. The Storm scored a league leading 340 goals. London was second with 316.

Guelph also won five of their last seven games.

Prediction: Guelph wins 4-0

(2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds vs. (7) Owen Sound Attack

These teams are strangers of sorts.

The Greyhounds and Attack met only twice this year with the season series going to Sault Ste. Marie 2-0. The Greyhounds outscored the Attack 7-2.

The Soo is simply too deep for the Attack with the likes of Sergey Tolchinsky, Jared McCann, Tyler Gaudet, Bryan Moore and Darnell Nurse.

Sault Ste. Marie won four of their last five games.

Prediction: Sault Ste. Marie wins 4-1

(3) Erie Otters vs. (6) Saginaw Spirit

The Saginaw Spirit will be overwhelmed by Erie’s high flying offense.

Connor Brown, Dane Fox, Connor McDavid, Andre Burakovsky, Brendan Gaunce, Adam Pelech and Oscar Dansk in goal are part of a lineup that can compete with any team in this league.

Erie won the season series 3-1 outscoring Saginaw 14-9. The Otters are the hottest team heading into the first round having won nine of their last 10 games, including eight in a row.

Prediction: Erie wins 4-0

(4) London Knights vs. Windsor Spitfires (5)

This is the closest series in a very predictable Western Conference.

That said, the Knights will come out on top. While no one will completely discount a team with the likes of Josh Ho-Sang, Brady Vail and Slater Koekkoek, the Knights have guns that match up – and than some.

London is hosting the Memorial Cup this year and is right behind Erie as far as hot play goes. The Knights have won eight of their last 10 games.

London won the season series 5-1 outscoring the Spitfires 26-18.

Prediction: London wins 4-2

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oshawa Generals vs. Mississauga Steelheads (8)

In a much tighter Eastern Conference, the Oshawa Generals will make it into the second round.

Oshawa took the season series 3-1 outscoring the Steelheads 12-7. The Gens offense is no slouch. Michael Dal Colle, Scott Laughton, Cole Cassels, former Kitchener Ranger Josh Sterk and goaltender Daniel Altshuller will prove too tough for Mississauga.

The only plus side for Mississauga is Oshawa’s poor play to end the season. The Generals had only one win their last five games.

Still…

Prediction: Oshawa wins 4-1

(2) North Bay Batallion vs. Niagara Ice Dogs (7)

North Bay and Niagara are no strangers.

The season series was evenly split, 3-3. Both teams scored 21 goals over the six games.

Still, the battle of a couple of former Kitchener Ranger OA’s (Ben Thompson for North Bay and Eric Ming for Niagara) should go the way of the Battalion.

The Battalion are coming in strong having won five of their last six games before the end of the season, including a 12-1 trouncing against Ottawa.

Predictions: North Bay wins 4-2

(3) Kingston Frontenacs vs. Peterborough Petes (6)

Kingston had very little in the way of problems against the Petes this season.

The Frontenacs took the season series 5-1 outscoring the Petes 38-16 and are going going up against a team that lost three straight games to finish off the season.

Kingston is deep up front with the likes of Sam Bennett, Henri Ikonen, Spencer Watson and Darcy Greenaway which should get them past Andrew D’Agostini and the Petes.

Prediction: Kingston wins 4-2

(4) Barrie Colts vs. Sudbury Wolves (5)

This series has the best chance of going the distance.

The Wolves won the season series 5-3 outscoring the Colts 31-29. However, since acquiring former Kitchener Ranger and first round NHL draft pick Radek Faksa at the trade deadline, Sudbury has won only 11 of 30 games and lost four of their last five. Faksa has five goals in 29 games for the Wolves. The Colts meantime, won four of their last five.

But as far as picking upsets – this is the one.

Prediction: Sudbury wins 4-3