Game #1 Sarnia Sting vs Saginaw Spirit (OHL Playoffs)

Missing In Action

It has been a while since my last post as I have been pretty busy the last half of the regular season. But it is the most wonderful time of the year the 2012 OHL playoffs are well underway and I will be making posts on every OHL Playoff Game I am able to watch. I had a Western Conference playoff preview almost completed but with the games already underway I don't feel that it is appropriate to post it now. I will however post my predictions for the east and west at the end of this post.

Sting Saad After Game #1

The Sarnia Sting opened the 2012 playoffs last night (March 24th, 2012) vs the Saginaw Spirit at the RBC Center in Sarnia, ON. The Sting would drop their first game of the 2012 OHL playoffs at home to the Spirit in a 5-1 decision. Sarnia are in the playoffs for the 1st time in 3 years and have home ice advantage for the first time in 8 years. The last goal scored in a playoff game by Sarnia (in Sarnia) was by now current New York Islander Matt Martin. Sarnia would ice their full roster and have 2 healthy scratches (Jack Kuzymk and Justice Dundas) for the first time this season for their first playoff game (talk about good timing). 

The game started off with a very high tempo and whistles were limited in the first 10 minutes of the game. Sarnia would score their only goal of the game on the powerplay in the 1st period as Alex Galchenyuk would score his 1st career playoff goal and first goal of 2011-2012 (as he missed almost the entire season with an injury) and the Sting would take a 1-0 lead to the dressing room. Unfortunately for Galchenyuk he would be the only player to score for the Sarnia Sting in Game #1. 

The second and third period would see Saginaw domination. Saginaw would put pressure on Sarnia constantly gaining access to the slot and not allowing Sarnia to penetrate the slot in the Saginaw zone. Saginaw would score 4 unanswered goals in the second period (Saad, Amestoy, Saad, Archibald). 

Sarnia would show frustration late in the third period and Saginaw would score a single goal curtesy of Garret Ross. 

- Sarnia was out shot in all 3 periods and 33-27 in the game

- The Sting are going to have to change their game plan up for Saturday night as they need to tighten up defensively and find a solution for Saad, Shalla and Trocheck

- Alex Galchenyuk's speed and skating hasn't been effected by his knee injury and neither has his hands. One thing that is clear is that Alex still isn't in game shape (that will happen when you only play a game and a half all year though)

- Sarnia iced a line of Galchenyuk, Spooner and Yakupov has their top offensive line. 

- The Sting seemed to have some chemistry issues as timing crossing the blue line seemed to be off at times along with a lot of missed passes

- Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke was apparently in Sarnia taking in the game last night, maybe the Sting lost just to impress him? Brandon Saad probably opened his eyes though (I said last year at the draft that Burke should have taken him before Chicago ended up picking him up)

- JP Anderson faced 33 shots and only stopped 28 while at the other end Jake Patterson turned aside 26 of 27 shots

- 3 stars were: (3) Josh Shalla (2) Carlos Amestoy (1) Brandon Saad (all had multi point games)

- Sarnia went 1/5 on the PP while Saginaw went 1/4

2012 1st Round OHL Playoff Predictions

East

(1) Niagara Ice Dogs vs (8) Oshawa Generals Niagara in 5

 I believe Oshawa will steal a game. However after seeing the results of the first 2 games I am not even sure that Oshawa knows that it is playoffs.

(2) Ottawa 67's vs (7) Belleville Bulls Ottawa in 4

 Ottawa won all but the first game in the season series vs Belleville. While the Bulls ice a decent team Ottawa had a very impressive season and is much better on paper. Belleville doesn't stand a chance in my mind. (After the first two games it looks like my prediction is going to be right, however Belleville did force game one into Overtime)

(3) Barrie Colts vs (6) Mississauga St Mike Majors Majors in 7

 Barrie has a very good team and but Mississauga took the 6 game season series 4-2. This is going to be a very close and tight scoring series though as every game in the regular season were 1 goal games. I believe the Majors finished in a lower position then they should have and ice a very strong and competitive team. I do believe this series will go 7 games though. (The two teams have split the first two games with Barrie winning game 1 3-1 and Mississauga winning game 2 4-0)

(4) Brampton Battalion vs (5) Sudbury Wolves Series goes 7 toss up who wins but I will say Brampton

West

(1) London Knights vs (8) Windsor Spitfires  London in 5

The London Knights clearly have a more dominant team in all aspects. Windsor is incredibly young and Bob Bougner has done and excellent job with this young team getting them into the playoffs. I believe Windsor will win 1 game probably game at home but London doesn't have too much problem getting past them in the first round. London and Windsor split season series 3-3. (London took game #1, 3-0)

(2) Plymouth Whalers vs (7) Guelph Storm Plymouth in 7

I think Guelph is a very under rated team and possibly didn't have a season like they should have. Guelph and Plymouth split the season series winning 2 games a piece. I believe this will be a very high scoring back and forth series and possibly goaltending may have to win a couple games for either team in order to win the series. I believe Guelph has the ability and tools to upset Plymouth but the Whalers have possibly the best goaltending tandem in the OHL this year. (Guelph took game #1, 4-2)

(3) Kitchener Rangers vs (6) Owen Sound Attack  Rangers in 6

 I believe that Owen Sound will be able to steal a couple of games but with Captain Mike Halmo being suspended for the 8 playoff games I don't think Owen Sound has what it takes to steal the series away from a powerful Kitchener team. Kitchener took the season series 4-2. (Kitchener won game #1 6-2)

(4) Sarnia Sting vs (5) Saginaw Spirit Sting in 7

I believe that this series could go either way. In fact I almost want to pick the Spirit in 7. Sarnia seems to have a bad reputation in the playoffs and only has 1 player on their roster that has actual playoff experience in Sarnia (Captian Nathan Chairlitti). I think the Sting just have too many offensive weapons and if they can get some chemistry going and have a solution for Saad I think they will win this series. Sarnia took the season series 4-2 but Saginaw took the final 2 games in the regular season outscoring Sarnia 13-3 for those final 2 games. (Saginaw took game 1 as you can see in the review above)