OHL regular season wraps up Sunday
sarniaspots.com march 17th, 2011

Toronto, ON – The 2010-11 OHL regular season schedule wraps up on Sunday March 20, 2011, and with just 24 games remaining only one playoff spot is available in the Eastern Conference Standings however teams are still in a position to move up or down in the standings.

Here is an overview of the OHL Playoff Format and Tiebreaking System along with the current Standings and Playoff Scenarios:

Playoff Format:
The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the OHL playoffs with the division leaders ranked one-two in each Conference.

In the first round of the playoffs, first place plays eighth, second plays seventh, third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth in each conference.

Teams are re-seeded within their conference after each round and the division winners are always ranked 1-2 within the conference as long as they progress. The champions from each conference play in the OHL Championship Series for the J. Ross Robertson Cup.

The OHL Playoffs are scheduled to begin on Thursday March 24 following the conclusion of the regular season. The first round series must be completed within 13 days; the second round series also have 13 days to finish while the Conference Championships are 14 days in length. The OHL Championship Series is also 14 days in length.

Tiebreaking System:
If two or more teams are tied for the final OHL playoff position in either conference, sudden-death playoff games will be used to determine the team that advances.

For all other playoff positions, the following tie-breaking procedures are in place:

1. The team with the most number of wins during the regular season shall be declared higher in the standings.

2. If two teams are still tied, the team with the best record in head-to-head competition (based on points including overtime losses) shall be declared higher in the standings. If more than two teams are tied after the first tie-breaker, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other shall be used to determine the standing.

3. If still tied, the team with the greater differential between goals scored for and against by clubs having equal standing after the second tie-breaker shall be declared higher in the standings.

Ontario Hockey League Standings and Position Scenarios (prior to games on Thursday March 17):

Eastern Conference

1. Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors – 102 points (50-13-0-2) – 3 games remaining (at NIAG, vs. BRAM, vs. BAR) – Majors have clinched the Hamilton Spectator Trophy with first place overall in the OHL.

2. Ottawa 67’s – 89 points (42-19-3-2) – 2 games remaining (vs. OSH, vs. SBY) – 67’s need three more points or simply a win over Oshawa on Friday to clinch the East Division title and second seed in the playoffs.

3. Niagara IceDogs – 94 points (44-16-2-4) – 2 games remaining (vs. MISS, vs. KGN) – IceDogs have clinched third place in the Eastern Conference.

4. Oshawa Generals – 86 points (38-17-4-6) – 3 games remaining (at OTT, vs. BRAM, vs. PBO) – Generals have clinched home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs, need to beat Ottawa on Friday for a chance at East Division title.

5. Kingston Frontenacs – 67 points (29-28-4-5) – 2 games remaining (vs. SBY, at NIAG) – Frontenacs need three more points to clinch fifth place.

6. Brampton Battalion – 63 points (28-30-1-6) – 3 games remaining (at MISS, at OSH, vs. BELV) – Battalion can still finish as high as fifth but trail the Frontenacs by four points, need two points to clinch sixth place.

7. Sudbury Wolves – 58 points (27-34-2-2) – 3 games remaining (at KGN, at BELV, at OTT) – Wolves can still finish as high as sixth but trail the Battalion by five points.

8. Belleville Bulls – 44 points (20-42-0-4) – 2 games remaining (vs. SBY, at BRAM) – Bulls can clinch eighth place with two points or a Petes’ regulation loss.

9. Peterborough Petes – 41 points (19-44-1-2) – 2 games remaining (at BAR, at OSH) – Petes can still finish eighth but trail the Bulls by three points.

10. Barrie Colts – 34 points (15-47-2-2) – 2 games remaining (vs. PBO, at MISS) – Colts have been eliminated from the playoff race but will select first overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection.


Western Conference

1. Owen Sound Attack – 93 points (44-17-1-4) – 2 games remaining (at GUE, vs. LDN) – Attack have clinched first overall in the Western Conference.

2. Saginaw Spirit – 83 points (39-21-3-2) – 3 games remaining (at WSR, vs. ER, vs. WSR) – Spirit can clinch the West Division title and second seed in the playoffs with one win over Windsor.

3. Kitchener Rangers – 85 points (38-19-4-5) – 2 games remaining (vs. PLY, at LDN) – Rangers can clinch third place with two points or a Windsor regulation loss.

4. Windsor Spitfires – 80 points (37-22-3-3) – 3 games remaining (vs. SAG, at SSM, at SAG) – Spitfires need to beat Spirit Thursday to have a chance at the West Division title, can clinch fourth place with three points but can still drop as low as sixth place.

5. Erie Otters – 78 points (38-26-1-1) – 2 games remaining (at SAR, at SAG) – Otters can still finish as high as fourth place but can clinch at least fifth place with two points.

6. Plymouth Whalers – 76 points (35-25-2-4) – 2 games remaining (at KIT, vs. GUE) – Whalers can still finish as high as fourth place but can clinch at least sixth place with one point.

7. Guelph Storm – 73 points (33-26-4-3) – 2 games remaining (vs. OS, at PLY) – Storm can still finish as high as sixth place but need three points to clinch seventh place.

8. London Knights – 69 points (32-28-4-1) – 3 games remaining (vs. SAR, at OS, vs. KIT) – Knights have clinched a playoff spot but can still finish as high as seventh trailing Guelph by four points.

9. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – 56 points – (24-34-5-3) – 2 games remaining (at PLY, vs. WSR, vs. SAR) – Greyhounds have been eliminated from the playoff race and will select fourth overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection if they maintain ninth place, otherwise they will select third overall if they slip to tenth place.

10. Sarnia Sting – 55 points (24-34-5-2) – 3 games remaining (vs. ER, at LDN, at SSM) – Sting have been eliminated from the playoff race and will select either third overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection if they do not catch the Greyhounds, otherwise they will select fourth overall if they move up to ninth.

 

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