Round #1 of the OHL playoffs finally came to a close on Monday night as the final 2 eastern conference match-ups were decided as Barrie eliminated Mississauga and Ottawa eliminated Belleville. So now it is time to look back at what happened in the first round of the 2012 OHL Playoffs.
Top 5 Goal Scorers
1. Stefan Noesen (PLY): 7 goals, 7 assists, 14 points6 GP vs the Guelph Storm
2. Michael Catenacci (KIT): 2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points 5 GP vs Owen Sound Attack
3. Tobias Reider (KIT): 7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points 5 GP vs Owen Sound Attack
4. Brandon Saad (SAG): 6 goals, 6 assists, 12 points 6 GP vs Sarnia Sting
5. Alex Friesen (NIA): 4 goals, 8 assists, 12 points 6 GP vs Oshawa Generals
Eastern Conference Review
*Note: I didn't watch any of the East games so these are just all facts
(1) Niagara Ice Dogs vs (8) Oshawa Generals
The Niagara Ice Dogs took 6 games to eliminate the Oshawa Generals which is a lot longer then I think anyone predicted. I took Niagara in 5 games thinking Oshawa would steal 1 game most people thought that Niagara would sweep the first round playoff match up.
Niagara took the first 2 games of the series with a decisive 6-1 game 1 and 6-4 game 2. Most people thought the series was over but I think Niagara must have fallen asleep at the wheel and thought they could mail it in because Oshawa came back to tie the series at 2 games a piece winning game 3 6-4 and game 4 5-3. Niagara then woke up again winning games 5 and 6 (5-3, 4-1).
Niagara's offence would be led by Alex Friesen (12 pts) and Ryan Strome (10 pts). While Oshawa was led by Boone Jenner who had 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists).
Former Sarnia Sting 1st round draft pick and Dallas Stars prospect Brett Ritchie had 1 goal and 3 assists in the 6 game series and was tied for a team worst -2 rating.
(2) Ottawa 67's vs (7) Belleville Bulls
Ottawa would take the series in 6 games winning games 1,2,5,6 (3-2 OT, 4-2, 5-2, 2-1) with the Bulls taking games 3 and 4 (both game 4-3 OT results). Belleville gave Ottawa all they could handle in a series that I expected to end in 4 games by forcing 3 overtime games and only losing 1 game by keeping all the games relatively close.
Ottawa was led by non other then Tyler Toffoli (6 goals, 4 assists, 9 points) and Shane Prince (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points) in the first round. Mark Zanetti of the 67's would only appear in 1 game in round 1 as he would be the recipient of a 5 game suspension for his pre-game spear in game #2.
The Belleville Bulls would be led by Joseph Cramarossa (2 goals, 2 assists) and Luke Judson (1 goal, 3 assists) who each had 4 points in the series while 6 other players had 3 points a piece (Curtis, Gaunce, Hooey, Payerl, Zharkov, Shaw). So it was really scoring by comity for the Bulls to force this series to 6 games.
Former Sting 2nd round pick Garrett Hooey had 3 points in the series (1 goal, 2 assists) and was a +1.
(3) Barrie Colts vs (6) Mississauga Majors
I took a bold prediction in this one saying the Majors would upset the Barrie Colts in 7 games. However, Barrie went out and proved me wrong winning games 1,3,5,6 (3-1, 4-0, 2-1, 3-2 OT) and taking the best of 7 in 6 games (Majors would win games 2 and 4 by scores of 4-0 and 3-2 respectively).
The Barrie Colts were led by Ivan Telegin (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points), Steven Beyers and Mark Scheifele (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points each). Mean while Riley Brace would led the way for the Majors with 2 goals and 5 assists for 7 points.
Former Sarnia Sting goalie Brandon Maxwell would start all 6 games for the Majors with a 0.933 save percentage and 2.06 GAA recording 1 shutout. Former Sarnia Sting 1st round draft pick Greg Sutch would appear in 5 games for the Colts recording 1 assist and was a -1 with 16 PIM.
(4) Brampton Battalion vs (5) Sudbury Wolves
I took the Battalion in 7 games in this one but they came out surprising everyone I think when they swept the Sudbury Wolves in the first round of the 2012 Playoffs. Brampton started strong and never let off the gas peddle in this one winning the 4 games 4-0, 4-2, 6-1, 4-3 (Double OT).
Sudbury came into the playoffs with OHL leading scorer (San Jose Prospect) Michael Sgarbossa but unfortunately for Sudbury fans it seems that no one seemed to show up big offensively for the Sudbury Wolves as they were out scored 18-6 in the 4 games of the series and only 7 players on the Wolves had a point in the series (3 of which were players with only 1 point) . Brampton's offence would be led by captain Sam Carrick (3 goals, 3 assists, 6 points), Ian Waters (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points) and Dylan Blujus (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 points). Only 3 players on the Battalion that played all 4 games were held pointless in the series. Mean while Sudbury would be led by Michael Sgarbossa and Joshua Leivo but they only had 1 goal and 2 assists for 3 points in the 4 games.
Western Conference Review
(1) London Knights vs (8) Windsor Spitfires
I personally feel that Windsor had a much better team then they showed in this series but they are young and inexperienced team and were no match for an extremely talented London Knights team. London took this series in 4 games (3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 8-3). I had predicted that Windsor would steal a game in this series and they were very close in games 2 and 3 and probably even deserved to win 1 of those games.
London was led in net by Michael Houser who is going to be one of the major pieces for London success through out these playoffs. Houser had a 1.52 GAA and a 0.947 save percentage while recording 1 shut outs. Only 3 players on the London Knights didn't record a point in the 4 game series and their offencive charge was led by Seth Griffith (4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points) and Olli Maatta (5 assists). The Windsor Spitfires were led by 6 different players having 2 points (Czinder, Rychel, Maletta, Batemen, Ebert and Johnson).
Former Sarnia Sting 15th round pick Zack MacQueen had 1 assist in 4 games, was a -6 rating and had 10 PIM's for the Spitfires. Former Sting goalie John Cullen only appeared in game 4 for the Windsor Spitfires playing 11 minutes and allowing 3 goals on 10 shots.
(2) Plymouth Whalers vs (7) Guelph Storm
The Plymouth Whalers seemed to be asleep for the first two games of this series and I don't think they were really mentally prepared for how good of a team Guelph had dropping the first 2 games of the series (4-2, 5-3). Plymouth then was awoken and looked like the force that I believe most people expected them to be in the playoffs winning the next 4 games and not looking back (7-1, 5-2, 9-3, 2-1 OT). I predicted this series to go 7 with Plymouth taking the series after splitting the season series and the fact that I believe Guelph had a sleeper team.
Plymouth would be led by Stefan Noesen who had 7 goals and 7 assists for 14 points in the 6 games. Only 4 players for the Whalers that played 4 or more games where held pointless in the series while Alex Aleardi, Mitchell Heard, and JT miller tied for 2nd on team scoring with 7 points a piece. Guelph would be led by Francis Menard who would have 3 goals and 3 assists for 6 points; while, only 4 players that played 5 or 6 games for the Storm would be held pointless.
(3) Kitchener Rangers vs (6) Owen Sound Attack
Owen Sound would enter this series without their Captain Michael Halmo who would not see the post season after being suspended for 10 games for his hit on Sarnia Sting forward Nail Yakupov. Tyler Randell would then be suspended by the OHL during the series for a head check and David Branch would make it well known that hits to the head will be treated the exact same as during the regular season handing down a 10 game suspension to him.
I predicted the Rangers in 6 in this series but they would eliminate the Owen Sound Attack in 5 games winning games 1,2,3 and 5 (6-2, 3-2, 4-1, 4-2). Kitchener only scored less than 3 goals in the series once in the Game 2 3-2 win. Owen Sound would take game 4 to overtime and managed to put off elimination 1 more game by winning that game 6-5.
Kitcheners offence was led by Micael Catenacci (2 goals, 12 assists, 14 points) and Tobais Rieder (7 goals, 6 assists, 13 points). Leading the way for Owen Sound was Cameron Brace (4 goals, 3 assists, 7 points) and rookie defenseman Chris Bigras (2 goals, 3 assists, 5 points).
Former Sarnia Sting forward Brandon Fransisco would only dress for 3 games of the series and would be held pointless and was a -1.
(4) Sarnia Sting vs (5) Saginaw Spirit
I don't think I really need to say anything about this series I covered it pretty in depth in a previous blog. Saginaw won the series in 6. I took Sarnia in 7 even though my gut told me to take Saginaw in 7.
Saginaw was led by Brandon Saad who was an absolute beast in the series and was well complemented by Jake Patterson in net.
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