Playoffs- who do you want to play?

Looks like its going to be a rat race til the final buzzer for 7th and 8th seed. Just wondering who do you want to see the generals face in the 1st round. Selfishly, I want to see Mississauga as its quick drive there and back, no late nights for early work mornings:) Part of me wants to go back down to the Jack ......would almost feel odd not playing Niagara in the playoffs. For fans Ottawa is the worst straw, so far too go. Plus we've seen Trudeau a couple of times this season and the kid has a pretty strong game.


Thoughts?

I don't think it will matter we should beat anyone of the 3, but me personaly I would like to play Missisauga as it's close enough that I would be able to drive to.Also who ever we play we better not take them lightly.

As Steamed said, I don't think it matters who we play in Round 1. We are far better then any of the 3 aforementioned teams. However all 3 have there on strengths, as small as they may me.

-Ottawa, while it's unlikely they finish in the top 8, the long 5 hour trip tends to where some teams down and could end up creating right games. I doubt it would cause a series loss, but losing 1 game is not out of the question. Throw in goalie Phillipe Trudeau getting hot at the right time and the top line of Van Stralen - Konecny - Bradford getting on a roll an Ottawa could be a much tougher out then people expect.

- Niagara, I feel like Niagara is one of those teams capable of pushing an opening round series 7 games. They play extremely well in Niagara, and Benefit from the small ice surface an a usually rocking barn. Their young goalie Brent Moran has stolen games this season & they have some young but potent offensive threats in Perlini, Verhaege, DiFrusica an so on. Marty Williamson is a solid OHL coach an can game plan very well for a playoff series. I still think the Generals are far superior, however a team like Sudbury should be careful with the ice dogs.

Mississauga - Mississauga plays a defensive first game, which keeps them in basically every game. They play a solid trap when they gain the lead as well. The teams built from the net out. Spencer Martin has the ability to steal a game. Sean Day, LeBlanc, Walsh and DiTomaso are mobile guys who get the puck up an out quickly, if the Gens forecheck isn't on they could see a bit of trouble. Mississauga's home ice offers no advantage as every time I've been there, the visiting fans out number the home fans. They lack very little offence other then Ciafrone an Foy. Jesse Barwell has some offensive punch but his ice time seems limited at times.

I really believe Mississauga is the least threatening of the crop, also as a fan being able to catch an away game or two is always nice. I'd prefer to see Mississauga in round 1.

i like the 3 post and would like to see Miss. but if they take any lightly and play like they did last night i won't half to worry about purchasing my second round tickets (awfull).
North Bay is kicking Bellevilles butt 5/0 after first, we don't seem to have the killer instinct like other teams have against lesser teams. 

It probbly has something to do with playing Belleville 8 times a season. Basically a nothing game on a Wednesday night against a last place team. It's a hard one to get up for. None the less if we take Niagara or Mississauga or even Ottawa possibly lightly things could get interesting real quick

The games still matter, what if Oshawa plays SOO in finals. The Pts still matter!!!!!

My hope would be Niagara - then Barrie

Mississauga is dull and boring - Ottawa - could get goaltending and distance - Belleville - goaltending is good and we don't play them that well

IN the playoffs you want and need to be ready and that will have to happen this week

I don't think we will know who we play till Sunday as it's that close, like I said before in my earlier post it dosn't matter,but that Niagara vs Mississauga back to back games will problably determine who will be in the last spot for the playoffs.
The match up I'll be keeping an eye on is Kingston vs Peterbourgh, I smell an upset.

I agree, steamed, if that ends up being the 3 vs. 6 matchup, I think the Petes would have a good chance to pull that off.

Apart from the Gens, the only other confirmed position is Kingston locked into 3rd.

The Petes could mathematically still finish 4th and have home ice in the opening round. The Central division is a mess of possibilities.

As of today, North Bay, Sudbury or even Barrie (although unlikely for the Colts) could still win that division and grab the 2nd seed.

For the Gens, I also like the possibility of Mississauga in the first round. They've scored the fewest goals of any team in the entire league and we could fill the Hershey Centre with Gens fans.

Not to get too far ahead of ourselves, but a scenario for the second round that is probably my least favourite option (and would never have been on the radar until just recently) is the Gens and Sudbury. With the Gens 1st and Sudbury 2nd for so long during the regular season, that would never have been a 2nd round matchup...but with Sudbury slipping to 4th, should that hold and all the top seeds win in the opening round, that's what we'd have. A lot of if's there, but it still could be a possibility if the Wolves don't win their division.

Kingston is not locked into 3rd. With 78 points both North Bay and Sudbury can finish above them.

Thanks, archer_gens, that's right. I'm not sure why I was thinking that the loser of the (probable) race for 1st in the Central between North Bay and Sudbury couldn't still come 3rd in the conference. Interesting that with 3-4 games remaining, every playoff spot in the conference except for 1st is still up in the air.

With Numerous spots up for grabs with just days to go, things could definitely get interesting. But big upsets would need to happen to move any teams out of their current positions. With the exception up Niagara, Mississauga & Ottawa of course. The way things set up Mississauga would likely need to get 2 points in their final 3 games to finish 8th. If the Steelheads go 0-3 Ottawa will
Slip into the playoffs as the 8th seed.

I personally think, Mississauga should get at least a couple OTL points if not a Win. So in all likelyhood we should see the Steelheads as round 1 opponents.

Pete's get locked into 6th tonight.

Don't count the Bull's out for the last playoff spot.

7   Niagara IceDogs 52
8   Ottawa 67's 51
9   Mississauga Steelheads 51
10  Belleville Bulls 50

Bulls Play Oshawa and Sudbury
Niagara Plays Mississauga (twice) and Peterborough
Mississauga Plays Niagara (twice) and Kingston
Ottawa Plays Barrie, Kingston and North Bay

Belleville will be in rough to make playoffs. One of Niagara and Mississauga is guranteed a playoff spot, with a head to head and points being guranteed to one team or both. It's very possible neither Ottawa or Belleville pick up points the teams they play should win. But the opposite is also true these teams could decide to rest players for a game and give them a huge chance at winning.

Mississauga leads the season series 4-2 over Niagara. If that holds true Mississauga will take 7th probably. Ottawa and Belleville will probably not earn points allowing Niagara to get in as well.

Has anyone heard if a playoff game will go Mon or Tues if there is a tie for 8th?

archer_gens wrote:
Belleville will be in rough to make playoffs.

 Yeah but 2 weeks ago they were all but out of it, and the talk was will they tank to get 1st overall pick, and now they are in a hunt for a playoff spot.
this is the OHL and anything can happen  

All these teams scare me right now as the Gens are not scoring. They have no secondary scoring on their 3rd and 4th lines whatsoever. That's why I was proposing we "tank", sell off our stars at the trade deadline and build for next year. Not negative , just realistic.

Ya ok. Sell the stars. Which teams were buying and paying huge for stars. Once Guelph got rychel and Ebert. They were done. And Guelph wanted a star forward and D-man in one deal. London wasn't giving up any young player, they will be strong again next year. Erie was only adding pieces. So it's easy for you to be realistic in your world. So in your realistic world. Please let us know who was gonna buy our so called stars.

Oh they are tanking it now....what a time to SUCK......The way they have been playing recently they don't deserve 1st spot and will be out in the 1st round!!!!

IMBARRISSING AND DISGRACEFUL!!!!

Thank god I have decided to forgo my playoff ticket!!!!

BIGGSTIMEGENSFAN wrote:Oh they are tanking it now....what a time to SUCK......The way they have been playing recently they don't deserve 1st spot and will be out in the 1st round!!!!

IMBARRISSING AND DISGRACEFUL!!!!

Thank god I have decided to forgo my playoff ticket!!!!

I want to personally THANK-YOU for actually not purchasing playoff tickets!
First & foremost this team DESERVE'S to be in 1st place & that’s that!
2nd, relax......no one ever though the gennies would clinch with 5 games to go in the season
3rd why are they embarrassing & disgraceful? Some strong words there for a team sitting in 1st place & getting ready for a longer than expected playoff run!

so once again I want to personally THANK-YOU for not coming to any playoff games & hopefully you won't ever go the GMC again to watch junior hockey because you sir are exactly what you say this team is!

"Embarrassing & Disgraceful!
  

The fact is the team has been playing like garbage lately. I certainly wouldn't be running to the box office to pick up tickets. Will they play better in the playoffs? You'd hope so.

I'm not sure whats happening, if they are just trying to manipulate the standings or what. But as they are playing now, they look like an 8th place team.

2nd (North Bay) and 3rd (Kingston) were confirmed last night. Barrie's win tonight has taken home ice away from Sudbury in the opening round.

Who has the crystal ball for tomorrow? Will Mississauga jump ahead of Niagara? Will Mississauga stay in 8th? Will there be a 1 game playoff between Mississauga and Ottawa for the final spot?

Just wanna throw this out there as far as playoffs go. Everyone was complaining about Thowey not taking a run at Carrick & Faksa among other top available players. Sudbury ended up paying a ransom for Carrick & Faksa and went all down hill from there. Can we now give Thowey a little credit for adding smaller named players who provide high quality and didnt effect the chemistry in the room.

Macker88 wrote:Just wanna throw this out there as far as playoffs go. Everyone was complaining about Thowey not taking a run at Carrick & Faksa among other top available players. Sudbury ended up paying a ransom for Carrick & Faksa and went all down hill from there. Can we now give Thowey a little credit for adding smaller named players who provide high quality and didnt effect the chemistry in the room.

Twohey did a great job @ the deadline, pick up players and didn't hurt our future in doing so.
I think that was our problem last year(and not Twohey fault) we had too many superstars that wanted to do it all them self, this years team is a team 1st, playing for the logo in front of jersey not the name on back, And that is what Sudbury done in getting those players @ the deadline there playing for the name on there jersey not for the logo on front of the jersey.

Macker88 wrote:Just wanna throw this out there as far as playoffs go. Everyone was complaining about Thowey not taking a run at Carrick & Faksa among other top available players. Sudbury ended up paying a ransom for Carrick & Faksa and went all down hill from there. Can we now give Thowey a little credit for adding smaller named players who provide high quality and didnt effect the chemistry in the room.

I'll give Thowey a gentlemens hand shake. The way he acquired the two players was top notch...he hit that out of the park. As for trading for Carrick & Faksa I know I am not guilty for that, but I did say to get high profile players and some TOUGHNESS. Alex Lepkowski 6'4" 204lbs I expected too see some toughness and protection for other players...didn't see it . Look what happened when London came into town last time..we stood around watching our players getting smashed into the boards and picked up off the ice. They owned us...You can't let teams get away this, especially in your own barn! The Gens are an easily intimidated team...even Peterborough has our number with the intimidation factor. By the way look out for Peterborough in the playoffs.
Getting back to the Thowey trade, the players we acquired are not high quality but they helped keep us competitive in my opinion. As I had mentioned earlier, his trade was a "box office trade." I had always leaned more on trading Laughton. That would of been thinking more for the future. This would of been a great opportunity to pick up young players/high draft picks to build onto next years team. Lets not forget there is a chance Micheal Dal Colle could stick next year in the NHL...I know its an "if" but this could very well happen. For the believers that think he is not strong enough...I totally disagree...
So the bottom line in my opinion, Thowey did his job politically...hockey is a business and you have to keep and bring fans to the arena. But if you want a cup Thowey better get more aggressive and not so passive...should of traded Laughton...

Lastly, playoffs about to start soon, good luck Oshawa...never know....

Go Gennies Go