By Aaron Bell
The 2010 Ontario Hockey League playoffs kick off on Thursday with the Windsor Spitfires opening their defence of the J. Ross Robertson Cup championship that they won last May. The Spitfires host the Erie Otters in the opening round of the playoffs while the regular season champion Barrie Colts open the playoffs against the Sudbury Wolves. The other six first round series get underway on Friday.
Here is a look at the first round matchups in the Western Conference.
Windsor Spitfires (1) vs. Erie Otters (8) Advertisement
Top scorers: Taylor Hall tied for the OHL scoring lead this season with 40 goals and 106 points and is a threat to score any time he is on the ice. Justin Shugg has emerged as a top-end producer while Adam Henrique and Greg Nemisz, who both joined Hall on Canada's World Junior Team, also contribute regularly. Veteran Zack Torquato is a dependable scorer that was on fire throughout the entire second half of the season for the Otters. Mike Cazzola and Greg McKegg were also very productive in helping the Otters push towards a playoff spot in the final stretch of the season.
In the nets: The Spitfires boast one of the best goaltending tandems in the Western Conference this season. Troy Passingham got every start this season against the Otters but the Spitfires are likely to start the playoffs with Philipp Grubauer in net. Grubauer won 13 of 19 starts after coming over from Belleville in January. Adam Courchaine has been a dependable starter for the Otters since coming over from Sarnia in January.
Game 1 - Thu Mar 18 7:05 PM Erie at Windsor
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 4:30 PM Windsor at Erie
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Erie at Windsor
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM Windsor at Erie
Game 5 - Sat Mar 27 7:05 PM * Erie at Windsor
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:00 PM * Windsor at Erie
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:05 PM * Erie at Windsor
London Knights (2) vs. Guelph Storm (7)
Head to head: London won the season series 5-0-0-1, including a 3-1 win in Guelph on Feb. 15 in their final regular season meeting of the season.
Top scorers: Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect Nazem Kadri was the Knights' top scorer this season with 35 goals and 93 points in 56 games but they also boast 30+ goal scorers in Justin Taylor and Jared Knight. Steven Tarasuk was one of the OHL's top scoring defencemen with 67 points in 67 games including 11 points in six games against Guelph. The Storm boast a balanced offensive attack with 30-goal scorers Taylor Beck, Peter Holland, Michael Latta and Mathew Sisca. Holland and Latta were among the OHL's top scorers in the final month of the season, combining for 62 points in 19 games since the start of February.
In the nets: Michael Hutchinson was the Knights' top netminder during the regular season and posted 32 wins to go along with a 2.86 goals against average. He got five starts against Guelph in the regular season and won them all with an average of two goals against. Brandon Foote carried the bulk of the load for the Storm down the stretch, helping them earn a playoff berth in the closing weeks of the year.
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:00 PM Guelph at London
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 2:00 PM London at Guelph
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Guelph at London
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM London at Guelph
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Guelph at London
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 7:30 PM * London at Guelph
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Guelph at London
Kitchener Rangers (3) vs. Saginaw Spirit (6)
Head to head: Saginaw won the season series 2-0-1-1, including a 3-0 win in Saginaw in their final meeting on March 13.
Top scorers: Rangers' sophomore Jeff Skinner became just the second OHL player this season to hit the 50-goal mark this season with a two-goal performance against Owen Sound last Friday. Chris MacKinnon, Jeremy Morin and Jason Akeson also hit at least 80 points this year and give the Rangers a solid group that also includes veteran scorer Matt Tipoff. The Spirit may have one of the most balanced attacks in the Western Conference this season with six 20+ goal scorers. Veteran Jordan Skellett took advantage of a strong start to put together a career season with 26 goals and 88 points.
In the nets: Brandon Maxwell was given the undisputed starters role for the Rangers in January and has looked strong along the way including five wins in his final seven starts of the regular season. He won both of his starts against Saginaw in the regular season. Edward Pasquale carried a huge workload in Saginaw this season, appearing in 51 games. He picked up 27 wins to go with a 3.17 goals against average and won two of his three starts against the Rangers this season.
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Saginaw at Kitchener
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:11 PM Kitchener at Saginaw
Game 3 - Mon Mar 22 7:30 PM Saginaw at Kitchener
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:11 PM Kitchener at Saginaw
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Saginaw at Kitchener
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 4:00 PM * Kitchener at Saginaw
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:30 PM * Saginaw at Kitchener
Plymouth Whalers (4) vs. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (5)
Head to head: The season series was tied 3-3. Plymouth won 3-0 at home on March 5 and the Greyhounds won 2-1 in overtime at home on March 12.
Top scorers: Whalers' sophomore Tyler Seguin tied with Hall for the OHL scoring lead with 106 points this season, including five points in five games against the Greyhounds. The Whalers also boast veteran scoring presence in AJ Jenks, Phil McRae and James Livingston, who came over from the Soo in January. Veteran defenceman Jacob Muzzin is the Greyhounds' leader on and off the ice. He scored a team-high 67 points from the blueline while veteran Brett Thompson was their top goal scorer with 42 markers. Former Whaler Vern Cooper has also been productive this season and big forward Jordan Nolan has contributed a point a game along the way.
In the nets: Matt Hackett has been one of the OHL's top netminders the past two seasons. He was second in the OHL with a .925 save percentage in a busy 56 games this season. Ottawa Senators' prospect Robin Lehner established himself as an OHL all-star with the Greyhounds with 27 wins and a 2.90 GAA in 47 games this season.
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:05 PM Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:05 PM Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:05 PM Plymouth at Sault Ste. Marie
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:05 PM Plymouth at Sault Ste. Marie
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:05 PM * Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 7:05 PM * Plymouth at Sault Ste. Marie
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:05 PM * Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
* Game if necessary
