We have our first playoff spot locked up as the Greyhounds pulled it off on Friday. (in spite of what the OHL says) We should also see Sarnia and Kitchener punch their tickets this weekend as well. Hamilton should get there in 3 weeks. Maybe 2 if Peterborough implodes and they handle their very difficult upcoming schedule.
Magic Numbers
East
Hamilton - 15
Niagara - 24
Barrie - 26
Kingston - 26
West
Sault Ste. Marie - X (27 for top seed)
Kitchener - 8
Sarnia - 4
London - 20
Guelph - 24
Games of the Week
January 31st Barrie Colts @ Owen Sound Attack
For midweek games this one should be pretty good. The Attack have been getting better goaltending recently and they are starting to get healthy. If their top line can keep up with the Colts they may have enough depth to out play the rest and steal 2 points in this one.
February 2nd Hamilton @ Kitchener
Over a stretch of 8 games the Bulldogs get Sarnia once and Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie twice. They have already lost both games this year to Sarnia and will be looking to make a statement against one of the Wests other contenders.
February 3rd Mississauga @ Hamilton
Mississauga is the best team I have seen up in Sault Ste. Marie all year. I like Ingham but I will need to see more out of him to view Mississauga as anything more than a pretender.
Division Quick Hits
Ottawa 67's legend Brian Kilrea was inducted into the AHL hall of fame in recogntion of his playing career... Hulking Ottawa blueliner Kevin Bahl was named Team Orr player of the game at the Top Prospects game with a goal and an assist... Benjamin Gleason picked up his 30th point this week becoming the 1st defenceman to pick up 3 straight 30 point seasons since Jordan Subban while they were still the Bulls
London Knights defenceman Evan Bouchard was named Player of the game for Team Cherry at the Top Prospects game after finishing with 4 assists which tied the all time record.... Mario Culina was named CHL Goalie of the Week last week...
With another perfect weekend the North Bay Battalion are now 8 points clear of Peterborough for the last playoff spot with only 20 games remaining for each team
With another 3 wins this past weekend the Sting are up to 34 on the season which is 9th most during their time in Sarnia. The Franchise record of 42 (set in '15-'16) should be broken by the end of February... Flints Ty Dellandrea set a Top Prospects game record with the quickest 2 goals at 20 seconds... With Barrett Hayton and Rasmus Sandin at the Top Prospects game the Soo Greyhounds have tied the Plymouth Whalers (00-08) for the longest streak of sending a player to the Top Prospects game.... Greyhounds forward Barrett Hayton finsihed tops among Top Prospects in the events off ice testing... Missed it last week but Even Cormier set a Saginaw Record for most career games played at 167
Power Rankings
(1) Sarnia Sting 34-12-3 Power Rank Percentage (PR%) .8176
The Sting are rolling right now with points in their last 10 games sporting a 9-0-1 record. However they still have serious issues holding on to leads as they escaped Oshawa last week thanks to some favourable calls after blowing a lead. They then turned a 5-1 lead vs Niagara into a 6-5 OT loss.
Games This Week: Feb 1 @ Wsr; Feb 2 @ Fli; Feb 3 vs Ldn
(2) Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds 40-5-3 PR% .7858
The Greyhounds became the 1st team to clinch a playoff spot with their win Friday night. The powers at be in the OHL were not on the ball and to save face announced that they clinched on Saturday but their math was off. The Hounds sat at 79 points after Friday while Erie and Flint could only finish with 77 and 76 respectively. It is obvious the OHL confirms playoff qualification as well as they update their suspension list. The Greyhounds also picked up win 40 on Sunday become the first CHL team to do so and become the quickest Greyhounds team to do that in the 20 team Era.
Games This Week: Jan 31 vs Sby; Feb 2 vs Sag; Feb 4 vs Eri
(3) Kitchener Rangers 33-14-2 PR% .7303
The Rangers finally won some games while ranked in the CHL top 10! All it took was for Logan Brown to suit up for them. The Brown-Mascherin-Sherwood line made quite the debut as they dominated both games this weekend.
Games This Week: Feb 2 vs Ham; Feb 3 @ OS
(4) North Bay Battalion 22-20-6 PR% .7084
9 wins in their last 10 games. Christian Propp has a save percentage north of .900 during this stretch and they are getting contributions throughout the lineup.
Games This Week: Feb 1 vs Eri; Feb 2 @ Miss; Feb 4 vs Gue
(5) Hamilton Bulldogs 31-11-6 PR% .6984
Picked up 4 out of 6 points on their 3 in 3 although I am sure they are disappointed after dropping the last game at home to Sarnia who was on the road for their 3 in 3. Another big weekend for the Bulldogs with Kitchener and Mississauga on the docket.
Games This Week: Feb 1 @ Pbo; Feb 2 @ Kit; Feb 3 vs Miss
(6) Mississauga Steelheads 22-24-1 PR% .6641
8-2 in their last 10 and fresh off their 2nd consecutive 2 win Fri-Sun stretch the Steelheads are still in the 8th spot in the East but are looking more and more dangerous every week. With some consistent goaltending they can be a real test for some of the Easts elite.
Games This Week: Feb 1 vs Gue; Feb 2 vs NB; Feb 3 @ Ham
(7) Kingston Frontenacs 25-16-7 PR% .6517
The Fronts are finally winning and Jeremy Helvig picked up career shutout #10 on Sunday after narrowly missing it on Friday vs Oshawa. Max Jones is out 4-6 weeks with a broken finger so it will be an interesting stretch without him.
Games This Week: Feb 2nd vs Osh; Feb 3 vs Nia
(8) Niagara Icedogs 26-14-7 PR% .6205
A big win vs Sarnia followed by a win over Sudbury and a SO loss to North Bay. The Icedogs continue to lead the Colts in the Central and are showing much better depth then their divisional rivals from Barrie.
Games This Week: Feb 2 @ Ott; Feb 3 @ Kgn
(9) Owen Sound Attack 20-19-7 PR% .6155
A big win against Guelph as they look to pull themselves out of the 8th spot in the conference but a disappointing performance against London to start the week. Some intriguing games this week for the Attack as they look to get back on track and hunt down those teams ahead of them in the standings.
Games This Week: Jan 31 vs Bar; Feb 2 @ Gue; Feb 3 vs Kit
(10) London Knights 26-18-4 PR% .5931
3 out of 6 points for the young Knights with a big win over the suddenly lukewarm Owen Sound Attack. The loss vs Guelph will be seen as a missed opportunity but this team is showing lots of promise post retool.
Games This Week: Feb 2 vs Bar; Feb 3 @ Sar
(11) Guelph Storm 24-19-4 PR% .5922
The Storm won 2 of 3 this past week as Popovich played some great hockey. Still the more I watch this team the more I see flaws that will need to get corrected ahead of next season. I'm just not sure how Guelph will go about addressing those flaws.
Games This Week: Feb 1 @ Miss; Feb 2nd vs OS; Feb 4 @ NB
(12) Ottawa 67s 19-21-8 PR% .5464
Lots of extra hockey for 67s fans this past weekend as they picked up a shootout loss and a pair of OT losses. 15 goals against continues a troubling trend this year for the 67s. They will need to find an upgrade in net if they plan to contend next year.
Games This Week: Feb 2 vs Nia; Feb 4 vs Pbo
(13) Barrie Colts 27-17-3 PR% .5437
The Colts split their Highway 17 weekend starting off with a win against Sudbury before getting outplayed against the Greyhounds. If it weren't for the top line taking advantage of its opportunities this game wouldn't have been close. The Colts will need more lines to step up and produce if they are going to avoid the 4th seed in the East.
Games This Week: Jan 31 @ OS Feb 2 @ Ldn; Feb 3 vs Wsr
(14) Oshawa Generals 23-22-3 PR% .5174
A rough start with some rough defeats at the hands of Kingston and Hamilton. They saved face however with an OT win vs Ottawa to end the week. Hopefully some lessons learned by the young Gens that they can apply to the playoffs if they run into one of the lesser contenders like Niagara or Barrie.
Games This Week: Feb 2 @ Kgn; Feb 3 @ Pbo; Feb 4 vs Wsr.
(15) Saginaw Spirit 24-19-4 PR% .4793
They picked up a win against Windsor but couldnt keep up with the big boys as they dropped their games to both Kitchener and Sault Ste. Marie.
Games This Week: Jan 31 @ Fli; Feb 2 @ SSM; Feb 3 vs Fli
(16) Peterborough Petes 18-24-6 PR% .4589
This team is running out of time and running out fast. Wins against Oshawa and Ottawa are a must. If they lose both it would be a crippling blow to their playoff chances.
Games This Week: Feb 1 vs Ham; Feb 3 vs Osh; Feb 4 @ Ott
(17) Windsor Spitfires 23-20-4 PR% .4568
The Spits got swept this past week giving up 16 goals in the process. The most shocking was a 4-2 loss at the hands of the Flint Firebirds. More weekends like this and it may be a date with the Greyhounds in round 1 for the Spitfires.
Games This Week: Feb 1 vs Sar; Feb 2 @ Bar; Feb 4 @ Osh
(18) Flint Firebirds 14-29-4 PR% .4159
Do the Firebirds play spoiler this week or do they creep closer to Byfield. Ive felt all along that the Firebirds even with all their trades are a much better team than their record shows. If their games really mattered I would take them in a series over Sudbury and Erie. I imagine they would like nothing more than to upend Saginaw's bid at a higher playoff seed.
Games This Week: Jan 31 vs Sag; Feb 2 vs Sar; Feb 3 @ Sag
(19) Erie Otters 13-26-9 PR% .4007
Losers of both games this past week and of 5 in a row the Otters are now just 3 points back of Flint and Sudbury for the 1st overall pick. Circle February 2nd in Sudbury as a key match in the battle for Byfield. It will likely be Erie's only chance at a victory with North Bay and Sault Ste. Marie also on the schedule.
Games This Week: Feb 1 @ NB; Feb 2 @ Sby; Feb 4 @ SSM
(20) Sudbury Wolves 13-30-6 PR% .3592
Outscored 10-3 this past week the Wolves open up this week on the road in Sault Ste. Marie followed by a home tilt with Erie. They will then have the weekend off to prep for Flints only visit next week.
Games This Week: Jan 31 @ SSM; Feb 2 vs Eri
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