today, a look at how the playoffs are shaping up in the ontario hockey league.
much like the whl, the ohl uses a top-8 in each conference format for the playoffs. again, the top team in each division is ranked 1-2 for each conference. the ohl runs a 68-game schedule, and most teams have five or six regular season games remaining. all but one playoff spot has been decided.
eastern conference
east division
the belleville bulls have opened up a 10-point lead on the oshawa generals at the top of the division. the generals have seven games remaining, one more than belleville, so there is still an outside chance oshawa could grab the top spot. the ottawa 67’s have also clinched a playoff spot. the peterborough petes are 11 points ahead of the kingston frontenacs for the final spot, so they should clinch sometime this week.
central division
the brampton battalion lead the way with 82 points over the niagara icedogs. niagara are seven points behind, with one game in hand. also moving on to the playoffs are the barrie colts and st. michael’s majors.
there is a decent chance that four of the eight playoff teams in the eastern conference will have sub-.500 records.
western conference
midwest division
the kitchener rangers are already guaranteed a memorial cup spot as hosts of the tournament, but they aren’t looking to back in to the finals. the rangers have already clinched the midwest division. they’ve only lost nine games all season. the london knights and guelph storm are also headed to the dance.
west division
the whole division is moving on to the playoffs. as stacked west division sees the sault ste. marie greyhounds at the top with a three point lead over the windsor spitfires. the plymouth whalers, saginaw spirit and sarnia sting round out the division. sarnia, last in the division, have a better record than half of the eastern conference teams.
the regular season ends on march 16, but here’s what the first round would look like right now, using peterborough as the final team in.
eastern conference
belleville bulls vs. peterborough petes
brampton battalion vs. ottawa 67’s
oshawa generals vs. st. michael’s majors
niagara icedogs vs. barrie colts
western conference
kitchener rangers vs. sarnia sting
sault ste. marie greyhounds vs. guelph storm
windsor spitfires vs. saginaw spirit
london knights vs. plymouth whalers
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