The 2005 OHL playoffs are upon us, and things
couldn't be better, especially in the Eastern Conference, where
the sheer parity between playoff teams guarantees a spectacular
playoff run.
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SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW |
The eight clubs qualifying for the 2005
playoffs - Peterborough, Mississauga, Barrie, Brampton,
Sudbury, Ottawa, Belleville and Toronto - were only separated
by 14 points.
Games all season were hard fought, and
there's reason to believe the intense action will continue in
the playoffs
On the other hand, the Western Conference was
dominated by London, who blew the league, and country away,
with their record-breaking 2004-05 campaign. The Knights
finished at the top of the heap in the Western Conference, and
OHL and CHL, with 120 points, and are favoured to win it
all.
So, back to the Eastern Conference. Here are
my predictions for the playoffs.
- Mississauga (number one seed) faces Toronto
(number eight seed). Mississauga dominated the Majors during
the regular season, winning five games. Toronto won two. The
other game ended in a tie.
Haddow's prediction:
Mississauga in six games. Why? O'Sullivan will make the overall
difference.
- Peterborough (2) versus Belleville (7).
Probably Belleville's worst scenario for the first round.
Peterborough slapped Belleville around all season, winning all
six contests.
Haddow's prediction:
Peterborough in five. Why? Petes have too much firepower for
the Bulls to contain.
- Barrie (3) versus Ottawa (6). The 67's were
3-1 against the Colts this season.
Haddow's prediction:
Barrie in seven games. Why? The two teams are evenly matched,
but Barrie's been smoking recently and have proven scoring in
Rob Hisey, B.J. Crombeen, Bryan Little and Hunter
Tremblay.
- Brampton (4) versus Sudbury (5). Another
tough series to predict. Brampton won four games, Sudbury won
three and the other game ended in a draw.
Haddow's prediction:
Sudbury in six games. Why? Sudbury enters the playoffs on fire
at home and on the road, and the solid play should spill over
into the first round. Also, Sudbury is getting consistent
goaltending from both goalies, which is another bonus.
Regardless of the outcomes, the 2005 OHL
playoffs will be a wild affair.
