Other Previews
Players to Watch
Sault Ste. Marie Boris Katchouk: Regular season leader in both Shorthanded Goals and Shorthanded assists. Is an elite finisher and offensive creator. What may go unnoticed by OHL fans outside of Sault Ste. Marie is the relentless determination he shows on the forecheck and his spectacular ability to steal the puck from his opponent.
Owen Sound Petrus Palmu: Currently owns the goal of the playoffs with his lacross style stuff from behind the net. The veteran forward just keeps putting up points on a deep and scary Owen Sound Offence
How they got here
SSM: Hounds dispatched divisional rivals Flint in 5 games. Hounds had one game they would like to get back where for the most part they were the better team but Flint tended to get most of the bounces which led to a dejected performance late in the 2nd period. Outside of that stretch there was never any doubt which team was going to advance.
Playoff Power Play: 4 for 29 13.8%
Playoff Penalty Kill: 21 for 25 84%
Playoff Power Play: 4 for 29 13.8%
Playoff Penalty Kill: 21 for 25 84%
OS: Similiar to Sault Ste. Marie there was never much doubt who would win the series. Rangers goalie Luke Opilka did his best to keep it respectable but the Attack offence kept coming in waves and completly wore down the vastly over matched Rangers.
Playoff Power Play: 8 for 24 33%
Playoff Penalty Kill: 21 for 24 87.5%
Playoff Power Play: 8 for 24 33%
Playoff Penalty Kill: 21 for 24 87.5%
Key's to the Series
SSM: Hounds do a fantastic job of playing patient and trusting their abilities even when trailing. They must continue to play like this but also make sure they don't play too much catch up. The Attack beat the Hounds with ease in the regular season and are difficult team to come back against. Still the Hounds have to trust the process they have played with all year and take advantage of their opportunities.
OS: They need to overwhelm the Hounds. Raaymakers has regained the starters job and played brilliantly vs Flint. The Attack must get to him early and kill his confidence.
Season Series
SSM 0-2-0
O.S. 2-0-0
Owen Sound won both matchups this year 6-1. Greyhounds captain Blake Speers was unavailible for both match ups versus the Attack. Don't know if he is a 5 goal difference in any of those games but over a 7 game series he certainly adds a different element. The Attack have the depth and attacking pace to get the Greyhounds out of their comfort zone. The Hounds are at their best when they control the pace and possession and wear down their opponents. They were unable to do that in either matchup this year.
Key Numbers
SSM:
53: They Greyhounds had 53 more power plays than penalty kills in the regular season. The Attack have the best power play in the league so it is imparative that the Hounds stay out of the box and have the power play numbers in their favour
39: The Attack were a +39 on special teams this season as they scored 39 more times on the PP or SH than they gave up. With the skill they posses 5on5 this allows them to play a freer and more relaxed style that allows them to control the tempo.
Prediction
As a betting man I don't know if I can take the Greyhounds. They have been fantastic all year and are the 3rd best team against the Wests elite this season. I don't want to read to much into the regular season match ups as there are plenty of variables that affect those matchups that are immaterial come playoff time. That said I just feel this is a bad match up and Owen Sound will be able to whittle away at the Hounds. Because of this I am picking Owen Sound in 6 games.
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