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Let the OHL playoffs begin: first round predictions

Don't expect any upsets in the first round this year
20190310 storm vs rangers ts 1
Nick Suzuki of the Guelph Storm can't quite get the puck past the outstretched pad of Kitchener Rangers goaltender Luke Richardson. Tony Saxon/GuelphToday file photo

The first round of the OHL playoffs kicks off Thursday with three games. The Guelph Storm opens its best-of-seven series against the Kitchener Rangers at home Friday.

Upsets don’t happen very often in the opening round of the OHL post-season and there’s no reason to expect one this season. The closest point differential of any opening round matchup was the 18 separating Guelph and Kitchener.

The Storm and Rangers split their eight head-to-head games this season, but Kitchener has won three of their four games since the January trade deadline, including a pair at the Sleeman Centre.

Storm captain Isaac Ratcliffe said the Storm is a confident bunch, but not overconfident, given the trouble the Rangers have given them this season.

“We know that they’re going to be a really strong team. They’ve showed it all year. They’ve brought it to us a tonne this year and we know they’re going to do the same thing in our building on Friday night,” Ratcliffe said.

“We’ve got to come out strong, we’ve got to play fast and control the pace of the game.”

Once they got their speed going and once they wanted to play how they play, that’s when they started to jump on us.”

Here’s a look at all the opening round matchups:

WESTERN CONFERENCE

London (1) vs. Windsor (8)

The Knights sputtered down the stretch and have been having some issues in net of late, but that shouldn’t come into play too much against the offensively-challenged Spits, the lowest scoring team of any to make the post-season.

Prediction: Knights in four.

Saginaw (2) vs. Sarnia (7)

Saginaw has been the best team in the league since Chris Lazary took over as head coach and they might have the best goaltending in the West in Ivan Prosvetov. They made key moves at the deadline that have paid off big time. Now its time for a rare playoff run for a team that has only won three playoff rounds in 16 seasons.

Prediction: Spirit in five.

Sault Ste. Marie (3) vs. Owen Sound (6)

Owen Sound is never an easy road barn to play in, but the Attack allows too many goals to give the Hounds much of a challenge in this matchup. Selling the farm sucks for a year or two.

Prediction: Greyhounds in five.

Guelph Storm (4) vs. Kitchener Rangers (5)

On paper this one shouldn’t be close, but the Rangers get huge confidence from splitting the season series, including two wins in Guelph. Still, Guelph didn’t sell the farm to go out in the first round and the trio of Yantsis/Meireles/Damiani can’t carry a team through a seven-game series against a deep team like the Storm.

Prediction: Storm in five.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Ottawa (1) vs. Hamilton (8)

The 67’s have been in cruise control the second half of the season and will use Hamilton as an appetizer for what’s to come.

Prediction: 67’s in four.

Niagara (2) vs. North Bay (7)

The red-hot IceDogs are on a roll and should have no trouble with the Battalion who got 27 per cent of their goals from one player in Justin Brazeau.

Prediction: Niagara in five.

Oshawa (3) vs. Peterborough (6)

Perhaps the most interesting series of the first round pits a legit Eastern Conference contender in the Generals against a team that has been playing very well of late in the Petes. Oshawa won six of the eight meetings this year but the two teams haven’t played each other since mid-February.

Prediction: Oshawa in six.

Sudbury (4) vs. Mississauga (5)

It might be a four-versus-five matchup, but the Wolves finished 20 points ahead of the Steelheads and have the OHL’s best goaltender this year in Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. I'd feel more confident if Sudbury didn't have the worst power play in the OHL this season.

Prediction: Sudbury in six.


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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