(3) Sarnia vs (6) Windsor
Tale of the Tape
Owen Sound Attack
Head Coach
Todd Gill (1st year with Owen Sound)
Team Leaders
Nick Suzuki hit the century mark this year with 100 points in 64 games. He blew past the 200 point mark and is sitting at 234 on his career. He improved in the faceoff circle this year and also took more shots. He was dynamite in the playoffs last year and should be even better this season.
Jonah Gadjovich picked up 48 points in 42 games this season. His per game numbers dipped a bit from last season but he did average more shots and was an important piece on Team Canada's gold medal winning world junior team.
Sean Durzi finished the year with 49 points in 40 games as the 19 year old exploded offensively for the Attack. Missed some time after suffering an ankle sprain in a game against the Greyhounds but picked up where he left off at the end of the year.
Playoff Experience
The Attack roster has 337 games of OHL experience and most of the games have been together as a unit. This is an experienced and veteran group who has been here before with varying degrees of success.
Scoring Leaders vs London
Nick Suzuki 6G 2A
Aidan Dudas 3G 3A
Maxim Sushko 2G 2A
Team Averages
Goals Per Game 289 (3rd in West) 4.25
Goals Allowed Per game 247 (7th in West) 3.63
Power Play: 21.8%
Penalty Kill: 80.1%
Special Teams Plus Minus +16
Age: 18.52 (3rd)
Height: 182.64cm (17th)
Weight: 83.16 (10th)
What to Watch for
In each of the last 3 seasons the Owen Sound Attack have been eliminated by the eventual OHL champions. That bodes well for them going into this series because London is not winning the OHL title this year.
London Knights 39-25-2-2
Head Coach
Dale Hunter
Team Leaders
Evan Bouchard led the Knights and all OHL defencemen in points with 87 in 67 games this season. He affects the game on both ends of the ice and is a dominant force in all facets of the game.
Alex Formenton picked up 48 points in 48 games and showed an ability to take over when needed for the Knights. He was held pointless in the playoffs last season in 13 games so he will be looking to bounce back from that.
Joseph Raaymakers finished the year with a .910 sv% for the Knights and really turned this team around when he arrived from Sault Ste. Marie. He was outstanding in the playoffs last year with a .942 sv% and almost led the Hounds to an upset over the Owen Sound Attack. Can he finish the job this year?
Playoff Expierience
The Knights only have 86 games of OHL Playoff experience. All 24 games on the blueline are held by captain Even Bouchard. Formenton and Foudy were held pointless in 13 games last year but should see more production this year in leading roles.
Scoring Leaders vs Owen Sound
Evan Bouchard 3G 6A
Alex Formenton 4G 3A
Tyler Rollo 2G 4A
Team Averages
Goals Per Game 233 (5th in West) 3.43
Goals Allowed Pergame 212 (2nd in West) 3.12
Power Play 18.2%
Penalty Kill 80.5%
Special Teams Plus Minus +3
Age: 17.75 (20th)
Height: 183.42 (15th)
Weight: 79.03kg (19th)
What to Watch for
The Knights have started the rebuild and enter the playoffs with the youngest roster in the OHL. They still have plenty of fire power and boast the top offensive defenceman in the OHL in Evan Bouchard. If he gets going he is capable of putting this team on his back offensively.
Season Series
LDN 4-1-1
OS 2-4-0
Oct 15
OS 4 @ LDN 3 OT
Nov 4
LDN 4 @ OS 1
Nov 24
OS 3 @ LDN 5
Dec 17
LDN 1 @ OS 0
Jan 26
OS 4 @ LDN 7
Feb 14
LDN 2 @ OS 4
Playoff History
The Knights at Attack have met 5 times in the playoffs in the 20 team Era. The first meeting was in 98-99 when they faced off in the Western Conference Finals. The Knights have won 4 of their 5 match ups with Owen Sounds only victory coming in 2010-11 which was the year the Attack won the OHL title.
Series Schedule
Game 1, Thurs., March 22 at Owen Sound – 7:00 p.m.
Game 2, Sat., March 24 at Owen Sound – 7:30 p.m.
Game 3, Mon., March 26 at London – 7:00 p.m.
Game 4, Thurs., March 29 at London – 7:00 p.m.
Game 5, Sat., March 31 at Owen Sound – 7:30 p.m.
Game 6, Mon., April 2 at London – 7:00 p.m.
Game 7, Tues., April 3 at Owen Sound – 7:00 p.m.
Prediction
Owen Sound on paper is the better team and has started to play up to their potential the last few weeks. The one spot where London has the advantage is in net. If Joseph Raaymakers plays like he did last year against the Attack the Knights have a real chance to pull off the upset.
I feel Owen Sound has more margin for error even though London has a clear advantage in net. because of that I am going with Owen Sound in 6
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