Guelph Defeat 67's In A Shootout

Coming into the game against the Ottawa 67's, the Guelph Storm held onto the final playoff spot by the slimmest of margins. They were tied with the Soo Grey Hounds who were idle on Sunday. Guelph used one of their two games in hand on the Soo to jump two points ahead of them after defeating the 67's in a shootout by a final score of 4-3.

Both teams played a flawless first period, with Guelph dominating the majority of play. Both goalies Michael Nishi of the 67's and the Storm's Garret Sparks combined to stop all shots they faced. The score after one was 0-0.

The Storm once again pressed the action and at the 6:15 mark of the second they were rewarded when Jason Dickinson put one past Nishi for the 1-0 lead. However after allowing the games first goal Ottawa began to push back and tied the game ten minutes later when Nicholas Foglia beat Sparks, knotting things up again. Shortly after relinquishing the lead Guelph responded in a big way, scoring two goals in just over two minutes. Brock McGinn who was one of the best Guelph players in the game would notch the first one putting the Storm up 2-1, Cody McNaughton would add another to give Guelph a 3-1 lead heading into the third.

After killing a penalty to start the third Ottawa finally caught a break when the league's leading scorer would break in one on one with Sparks and he made no mistake tucking the puck into the net to cut the lead to one. 67's tender Nishi continued to turn away Guelph opportunities and help keep Ottawa within striking distance. Nishi and Ottawa would benefit from a rather fortunate bounce off a skate that beat Sparks 5-hole to tie it up at three. Steven Janes would be credited with the game tying goal. The 67's survived a late scare in the period when they were down two men, but they were able to kill off the penalties. Both teams had earned a point after sixty minutes.

In overtime the 67's took over and had multiple opportunities including what look to be a for sure tape in to win it, but Sparks stuck his pad out and denied the 67's the win. Sparks would continue to come up big for his team and help send this game to a shootout.

In the shootout Sparks continued to shine. Sparks faced Tyler Toffoli, Sean Monahan, and Mike Cazzola and he stopped em all. It was the first time in Spark's OHL career he had gone 3/3 in a shootout. The Storm got the only goal of the shootout from their second shooter Jason Dickinson who had opened the scoring back in the second.

With the Storm's win and a Windsor loss, Guelph jumped to 7th in the West. They are tied with the Spitfires in points with sixty but have two games in hand on Windsor. The Storm are two points up on the 9th place Soo Greyhounds and have a game in hand on them. Guelph's next game is Tuesday vs the Kitchener Rangers.


By Chris McDonald
Follow me on Twitter @ChrisMcdonald91

GAME DAY PREVIEW - Game 3: Ottawa 67’s @ Sudbury Wolves

GAME DAY PREVIEW:  Game 3: Ottawa 67’s @ Sudbury Wolves – 7:30pm

By: KATHRYN JEAN 

Radio: 580 CFRA (Ottawa), 95.5 KFM (Sudbury).
TV: Rogers 22 (Ottawa)

Sudbury leads series 2-0

If you told most people that the Sudbury Wolves would be up 2-0 going into game 3 of this series, most people wouldn’t believe you.  Game 1 was a bit of a mess on both sides, but Sudbury capitalized on their home ice advantage in game 2.  The Wolves top line of Scarbossa, Kuchin and Leivo have combined for a total of 24 points in 2 games and are dominate every time the step on the ice.

The Sudbury Wolves have done a great job of getting to the puck first and jumping on opportunities they get.  It wasn’t only a lot of saves that Petr Mrazek made, but a lot of quality scoring chances he stood on his head for.  Without Mrazek, the game could have easily been a blowout for the Wolves.

The 67’s admitted to taking the Wolves too lightly.  This isn’t the same team they saw at the beginning of the season.  The Wolves excelled from out of a playoff position into a playoff position in the second half of the season.  You could also look at the 67’s team as one that may have a bit of trouble getting use to 5 new players in the lineup that are fresh off sitting out due to injury.  The loss of veteran leader and solid defenceman Travis Gibbons has definitely hurt them a lot.

The Wolves have used their speed and skill to get past Ottawa in game 2 and the 67’s have caught themselves playing a chasing game.  The 67’s have fallen right into the game play of the Wolves, instead, they need to focus on their game and how to force Sudbury to follow.

This is a crucial game for the Ottawa 67’s.  No one wants to be down 3-0 approaching a possible elimination game on home ice… not to mention a 3 game deficit is much harder to overcome than a 2 game deficit.  The 67’s will need an early good start in game 3 to try to shift momentum the opposite way.  

Head-to-Head

Ottawa 3 @ Sudbury 5 (Mar 28 2011) Final
Sudbury 8 @ Ottawa 7 (Mar 26 2011) Final OT

LINEUP CHANGES

Ottawa 67’s
Tyler Graovac, fractured arm, indefinite
Travis Gibbons, lower body, indefinite
Jon Carnevale, concussion, IR
Cosimo Fontana, concussion, IR

Sudbury Wolves

Cody Mintz (scratch in game 1 & 2)

Jeff Corbett (scratch in game 1 & 2)

Alex Racino (scratch in game 1 & 2)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ottawa 67’s
Tyler Toffoli – 3 goals, 6 points in 2 games
Thomas Nesbitt – 2 goals, 4 points in 2 games
Ryan Martindale – 0 goals, 3 points in 2 games

Sean Monahan – 1 goal, 3 points in 2 games

Sudbury Wolves
Michael Sgarbossa – 2 goals, 9 points in 2 games
Andrey Kuchin – 5 goals, 8 points in 2 games
Joshua Leivo – 3 goals, 7 points in 2 games

NHL DRAFT PICKS

Ottawa 67’s
Tyler Toffoli (Los Angeles Kings round 2, #47 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
Ryan Martindale (Edmonton Oilers round 3, #61 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
Dalton Smith (Columbus Blue Jackets round 2, #34 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
Petr Mrazek (Detroit Red Wings round 5, #141 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
Eligible 2011: Shane Prince (35th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)

Sudbury Wolves

Marcus Foligno (Buffalo Sabres round 4, #104 overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft)
Eric O’Dell (Anaheim Ducks round 2, #39 overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft)

SCHEDULE

Game 4: Thurs., March 31 at Ottawa 7:00
Game 5: Sat., April 2 at Ottawa 2:00 *
Game 6: Mon., April 4 at Sudbury 7:30 *
Game 7: Tues., April 5 at Ottawa 7:00 *

67’s look to bounce back after heartbreaking OT loss

BY: Kathryn Jean

SUDBURY – The Ottawa 67’s fell to the Sudbury Wolves 8-7 during the extra frame in game 1 action at Scotiabank Place Saturday afternoon. 

Andrev Kuchin led the way with 3 goals, 2 assists and a +7 rating.  Close behind was linemate Josh Leivo who also had 3 goals, 2 assists but a +6 rating.  The Wolves line (also including Michael Sgarbossa) combined for a total of 16 points on the afternoon.  Ryan Martindale was stellar for the 67’s also scoring a hat trick in the losing cause.  Tyler Toffoli (4 points) and Thomas Nesbitt (3 points) added a pair of goals each.

The 67’s enjoyed a day off yesterday to help recover from bumps and bruises.  Dalton Smith was speared in opening seconds of the first period by Sudbury captain, Marcus Foligno.  Later in the first period Eric O’Dell received a game misconduct after receiving a boarding call from hitting Tyler Toffoli.

Game 1 saw the return of Cody Lindsay, Thomas Nesbitt, Steven Janes and Julian Luciani to the 67’s lineup.   The 67’s top line received good news as Shane Prince made the trip to Sudbury and is expected to suit up in game 2. 

Being down 1-0 in the series, the 67’s realize the importance of game 2.  Due to scheduling conflicts, the series now shifts to Sudbury for games 2 and 3 on back-to-back nights – Monday and Tuesday.  If they capitalize on home ice advantage, the Wolves could go up 3-0 and return to Ottawa for games 4 & 5 if necessary.  Puck drops at 7:30pm.  Tonight’s game will set the tone for the rest of the series.

LINEUP CHANGES

OTT: Shane Prince, concussion & whiplash, day-to-day (expected to return)
OTT: Tyler Graovac, fractured arm, indefinite
OTT: Travis Gibbons, lower body, indefinite
OTT: Jon Carnevale, concussion, IR
OTT: Cosimo Fontana, concussion, IR
SBY: unknown changes

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Leading scorers

OTT: Tyler Toffoli– 57 goals, 108 points
OTT: Shane Prince– 25 goals, 88 points
OTT: Ryan Martindale– 34 goals, 83 points
SBY: Michael Sgarbossa– 36 goals, 82 points
SBY: Josh McFadden– 19 goals, 72 points
SBY: Marcus Foligno– 23 goals, 59 points

NHL Picks
OTT: Tyler Toffoli (Los Angeles Kings round 2, #47 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
OTT: Ryan Martindale (Edmonton Oilers round 3, #61 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
OTT: Dalton Smith (Columbus Blue Jackets round 2, #34 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
OTT: Petr Mrazek (Detroit Red Wings round 5, #141 overall, 2010 NHL Entry Draft)
OTT: Eligible 2011: Shane Prince (35th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)
SBY: Marcus Foligno (Buffalo Sabres round 4, #104 overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft)
SBY: Eric O’Dell (Anaheim Ducks round 2, #39 overall, 2008 NHL Entry Draft)
SBY: Ben Chiarot (Atlanta Thrashers round 4, #120 overall, 2009 NHL Entry Draft)

Weekend Recap: West much tighter than the East

With 17-games completed in the first round of the 2011 OHL playoffs, it seems that the Western Conference has a much tighter race than the Eastern Conference.

Three of the four Western series are tied at one game a piece as follows:
Owen Sound Attack, 1 - London Knights, 1
Saginaw Spirit, 1 - Guelph Storm, 1
Windsor Spitfires, 1 - Erie Otters, 1

The only uneven series in the West is the Kitchener/Plymouth battle, as the Whalers have a 2-0 series lead with home and road victories against the Rangers. Many thought Kitchener would be the favourites in this match-up, but if I recall correctly, our own Brandon Sudeyko had Plymouth winning the series; looks like his prediction is solid thus far, but it ain't over until it's over.

The Eastern Conference, on the other hand, seems to be much more lopsided. Three of the four match-ups have the favoured powerhouse teams with a concise series lead. The only upset so far is the Sudbury Wolves' 1-0 series lead over the Ottawa 67's. The game between the two teams was as close as it gets as the Wolves took an 8-7 win over the 67's in the high-scoring thriller. Sudbury currently leads our In the O Poll (scroll down, right side) as the underdog team who will be the biggest surprise in the post-season, and I also had thought the Wolves would be a dangerous team to face in the playoffs.

The rest of the battles go along with what many predicted prior to the start of the playoffs:
Mississauga St. Michael's Majors, 3 - Belleville Bulls, 0
Niagara IceDogs, 2 - Brampton Battalion, 0
Oshawa Generals, 3 - Kingston Frontenacs, 0 

The only question now is will the teams with a 3-0 series lead complete the sweep.

The remaining games this week are as follows (not including the if necessary games):

Eastern Conference:
Game 2 - Mon Mar 28 7:30 PM Ottawa at Sudbury
Game 3 - Tue Mar 29 7:00 PM Brampton at Niagara
Game 4 - Tue Mar 29 7:00 PM Oshawa at Kingston
Game 4 - Tue Mar 29 7:05 PM Mississauga at Belleville
Game 3 - Tue Mar 29 7:30 PM Ottawa at Sudbury
Game 4 - Thu Mar 31 7:00 PM Sudbury at Ottawa
Game 4 - Thu Mar 31 7:00 PM Niagara at Brampton


Western Conference: 
Game 3 - Mon Mar 28 7:00 PM Plymouth at Kitchener
Game 3 - Mon Mar 28 7:05 PM Erie at Windsor
Game 3 - Mon Mar 28 7:11 PM Guelph at Saginaw
Game 3 - Tue Mar 29 7:00 PM London at Owen Sound
Game 4 - Wed Mar 30 7:00 PM Windsor at Erie
Game 4 - Wed Mar 30 7:05 PM Kitchener at Plymouth
Game 4 - Thu Mar 31 7:00 PM Owen Sound at London
Game 4 - Thu Mar 31 7:00 PM Saginaw at Guelph
Game 5 - Sat Apr 2 7:11 PM Guelph at Saginaw
Game 5 - Sat Apr 2 7:30 PM London at Owen Sound
Game 5 - Fri Apr 1 7:05 PM Erie at Windsor


Look for the first round to last longer in the Western Conference, but many teams in the East still have a chance to bounce back. 
Click here for expanded playoff brackets.

OHL Playoff Breakdown - Eastern Conference

OHL Playoff Breakdown – Eastern Conference - Explained

By: Brandon Sudeyko

So a few days ago I put it out there all the possible matchups that could happen for the OHL playoffs. I also listed based on the matchups what I would think that could happen in terms of winners and losers and how many games. What I didn't give you is a reasoning why Ottawa will fall in 7 games. Or why Oshawa will take out anyone they face... Well now it is explained.

(1) Mississauga St. Michaels Majors vs. (8) Belleville Bulls – MIS in 5

Is this even up for debate? I believe that no one believes Belleville can actually win this.  I am pretty confident that Belleville believes that they are toast. 

So why do I say MIS in 5 and not 4. What does Belleville have to lose. The pressure here is on Mississauga to get rid of Belleville as soon as possible. They are memorial cup hosts who need to prove that they truly belong as the Hosts of the prestigious event. So all that top level talent that is on the team needs to step up in this first round to shutdown the Belleville Bulls. The only problem is with all the pressure on Mississauga. I expect a 2-1 overtime victory for the Bulls sometime in the series as Subban or Teichmann stand on their heads to pull out a victory. That will probably be on Belleville ice. But if the Bulls can pull out a home split in Mississauga. Expect the flood gates to open up. 

(2) Ottawa 67’s vs. (7) Sudbury Wolves – SBY in 7

there is no question that Sudbury is one of the most dangerous and underrated teams in the OHL. On any given day they can definitely beat any team in the East or the West. The Addidtions of Michael Sgarbossa and Michael McDonald offensively. The blueline emergence of Josh McFadden alongside the mainstays of Marcus Foligno, Eric O’Dell, Mike Lomas, and Alain Valiquette. This core of players infused with the youth that is willing to do whatever it takes can overcome the coaching deficiency that is Tret Cull. On the other hand you have this mega power Ottawa 67’s team. Toffoli, Prince, Martindale, Smith, Nesbitt and Lindsay are an amazing top 6. Their back end has solidified itself huge around Petr Mrazek. The big problem is that I believe Sudbury can be a more physical team and even though Mrazek has the better numbers than Valliquette does. There is also an issue of 67’s injuries. And their injuries lie on the back end and the bottom 6 forwards. This can be huge for the 2 games in Sudbury were Cull can match up how he likes.  I will more than likely be wrong about this outcome but I am confident it goes at least 6 and then anything can happen and I can look like a genius.

(3) Niagara IceDogs vs. (6) Brampton Battalion – NIA in 7

This will come as a surprise to most because I have been a big supporter of the IceDogs this season but what is always lost is the fact that the team is built for next season. But that doesn’t mean they can not make a lengthy run. There is too much offensive talent for the Battalion to handle. They can limit most of NIA’s chances because their D corps is one of the best. With Cameron Wind anchoring 4 rookies on the blueline expect the scoring to be down while St. Jacques plays some of their best hockey. Physically this can be very evenly matched so Brampton will have to remember one thing. The last time they played NIA and shut them out at the Bunker. The icedogs were without Strome, Friesen and Archibald. A total of 238 points out of the lineup. Will they stop Strome, Aggozino, Friesen, Archibald, F.Hamilton, Pacan, Shipley, Wilson and Theoret… not all on the same night. And don’t get me started on Niagara’s D.

(4) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Kingston Frontenacs – OSH in 7

This series can be the most exciting. Not because they will be great games featuring tremendous D and amazing Goal Scoring with tremendous saves from the goalies. But because this series will be the definition of Gong Show. There is so much hatred between these two teams that it will not be an epic series. Will Oshawa win? No doubt. Will it be a very physical series considering these two teams history with penalties and suspensions? Yep. In the end will Christian Thomas and the Generals 3 Top Prospects send Erik Gudbranson and the Frontenacs to the golf course… you betcha. But then again I believe at this point… any team against the Frontenacs will be able to take them out with any trouble. 

Not the most analytical or scientific reasoning for why these teams will win they way they willl. But then again if you are a fan of the OHL you don’t need me to explain why these teams will win. You just want to know why I am crazy when I say Sudbury in 7 and MIS in 5. 

End of the OHL Season: One Down, Two to Go...

1 Down… 2 To Go 

By: Brandon Sudeyko

There are just 2 game nights left in the OHL regular season now. Or to be exact, one game night and one mid-afternoon day left in the OHL Regular Season now.

And with the close of Friday night action what do we now know??? 

Western Conference

In the west… we know really only one playoff matchup. Well two. But the other we don’t know who home is going to be. so here is an unsophisticated breakdown of the west right now…

What we do know is that the 3^rd seed KIT Rangers will play the PLY Whalers who are 6^th. The other thing we know is that Erie and Windsor will play each other but we do not know who is 4^th and who is 5^th.

SO as per the unsophisticated rules of the breakdown here is what I believe will happen in each Western Conference playoff scenario with no explanation.

(1) Owen Sound Attack vs. (8) London Knights – Owen Sound in 6 OR

(1) Owen Sound Attack vs. (8) Guelph Storm – Owen Sound in 5

(2) Saginaw Spirit vs. (7) London Knights – Saginaw in 7 OR

(2) Saginaw Spirit vs. (7) Guelph Storm – Saginaw in 5

(3) Kitchener Rangers vs. (6) Plymouth Whalers – Plymouth in 6

(4) Erie Otters vs. (5) Windsor Spitfires – Erie in 5 OR

(4) Windsor Spitfires vs. (5) Erie Otters – Erie in 6

That is the West…

Eastern Conference 

In the East… things are slightly easier right now. Ok it really isn’t the only thing is that you know who has Home Ice for the first round. So lets unscientifically breakdown all the possibilities.

(1) Mississauga Majors vs. (8) BEL Bulls/PBO Petes – Mississauga in 5

(2) Ottawa 67’s vs. (7) Sudbury Wolves – Sudbury in 7 OR

(2) Ottawa 67’s vs. (7) Brampton Battalion – Ottawa in 5

(3) Niagara IceDogs vs. (6) Brampton Battalion – Niagara in 7 OR

(3) Niagara IceDogs vs. (6) Sudbury Wolves – Niagara in 7 OR

(3) Niagara IceDogs vs. (6) Kingston Frontenacs – Niagara in 6

(4) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Kingston Frontenacs – Oshawa in 7 OR

(4) Oshawa Generals vs. (5) Brampton Battalion – Oshawa in 5

and that is the east.

Still, nothing can be set in stone but those are my BS answers to who I think can win out of the first round. If you are asking why no explanation… can you not see how many scenarios there are… I will keep these and I will expand when each opponent is final. It will be up by Monday I promise… maybe Tuesday.

In the O Games of the Weekend - March 18

By: JEFF BLAY

Friday, March 18: 
Oshawa Generals (38-17-4-6) vs Ottawa 67's (42-19-3-2)
67's are first in the East Division while the Generals are just three points behind. Great test for both teams, and Oshawa still has a slight chance of taking over the 67's spot with a game in hand.

Kitchener Rangers (38-19-4-5) vs Plymouth Whalers (35-25-2-4)
Rangers are currently third in the Western Conference while the Whalers are sixth, meaning, if the playoffs started tomorrow, these two teams would be facing each other in the first round. A big game and another good test for both clubs.

Saturday, March 19: 
Belleville Bulls (20-42-0-4) vs Sudbury Wolves (27-34-2-2)
Bulls are still fighting for the 8th seed with Peterborough, while the Wolves are currently in the seventh place spot, but could still catch Brampton for sixth should they win all their remaining games, and Brampton loose all of theirs. Important game for both teams, but more important for Belleville.

Peterborough Petes (19-44-1-2) vs Barrie Colts (15-47-2-2)
The Colts could play the season-enders here against Peterborough, who must win the game if they want to continue to press for the eight seed in the Eastern Conference. Although both Peterborough and Belleville have games Sunday as well, these Saturday evening games will be their most important.

Owen Sound Attack (44-17-1-4) vs London Knights (32-38-4-1)
The Attack have clinched first in the Western Conference while the Knights currently sit in eighth place, meaning these two will likely be first round playoff opponents. However, with London having a game at hand and being just four points behind the seventh place Guelph Storm, the Knights could still squeeze into the seventh place spot with a successful weekend.

Sunday, March 20:
Ottawa 67's (42-19-3-2) vs Sudbury Wolves (27-34-2-2)
As of today, these two clubs are matched up as first round playoff opponents. The Wolves are a dangerous team despite their deceiving record, but Ottawa has the only season series lead with a 4-2 win in September. It's been a while since these two teams have faced each other, so this game is up for grabs.