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Road to the 2011 OHL Playoffs

March 18, 2011 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL) News Release

Toronto, ON ¬" The 2010-11 OHL regular season schedule wraps up on Sunday March 20, 2011, and following Friday night action there are just 13 games remaining.

Only one playoff spot is available in the Eastern Conference Standings and is up for grabs between the Belleville Bulls and the Peterborough Petes. In the Western Conference, two playoff matchups are determined as the Kitchener Rangers will host the Plymouth Whalers next Friday night and the Windsor Spitfires will face the Erie Otters in the opening round beginning Thursday night. The schedule is set for the Rangers and Whalers however the Otters can still claim home ice advantage from the Spitfires with both schedule scenarios below.

Playoff Schedule for Kitchener Rangers (3) vs. Plymouth Whalers (6):

Fri., March 25 at Kitchener 7:30

Sat., March 26 at Plymouth 7:05

Mon., March 28 at Kitchener 7:00

Wed., March 30 at Plymouth 7:05

Fri., April 1 at Kitchener 7:30 *

Sat., April 2 at Plymouth 7:05 *

Mon., April 4 at Kitchener 7:00 *

Scenario One - Playoff Schedule for Windsor Spitfires (4) vs. Erie Otters (5):

Thurs., March 24 at Windsor 7:05

Sat., March 26 at Erie 7:00

Mon., March 28 at Windsor 7:05

Wed., March 30 at Erie 7:00

Fri., April 1 at Windsor 7:05 *

Sun., April 3 at Erie 4:30 *

Tues., April 5 at Windsor 7:05 *

Scenario Two ¬" Playoff Schedule for Erie Otters (4) vs. Windsor Spitfires (5):

Thurs., March 24 at Windsor 7:05

Sat., March 26 at Erie 7:00

Mon., March 28 at Erie 7:00

Wed., March 30 at Windsor 7:00

Fri., April 1 at Erie 7:00 *

Sun., April 3 at Windsor 2:00 *

Tues., April 5 at Erie 7:00 *

*if necessary

Ontario Hockey League Standings and Position Scenarios (prior to games on Saturday March 19):

Eastern Conference

1. Mississauga St. Michael ¬â¢s Majors ¬" 106 points (52-13-0-2) ¬" 1 game remaining (vs. BAR) ¬" Majors have clinched the Hamilton Spectator Trophy with first place overall in the OHL. Potential playoff opponents - BELV or PBO.

2. Ottawa 67 ¬â¢s ¬" 91 points (43-19-3-2) ¬" 1 game remaining (vs. SBY) ¬" 67 ¬â¢s have clinched the East Division title and second seed in the Eastern Conference. Potential playoff opponents ¬" SBY or BRAM.

3. Niagara IceDogs ¬" 94 points (44-17-2-4) ¬" 1 game remaining (vs. KGN) ¬" IceDogs have clinched third place in the Eastern Conference. Potential playoff opponents - KGN, BRAM, SBY.

4. Oshawa Generals ¬" 86 points (38-18-4-6) ¬" 2 games remaining (vs. BRAM, vs. PBO) ¬" Generals have clinched fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Potential playoff opponents ¬" KGN or BRAM.

5. Kingston Frontenacs ¬" 67 points (29-29-4-5) ¬" 1 game remaining (at NIAG) ¬" Frontenacs need one more point to clinch fifth place. Potential playoff opponents ¬" OSH or NIAG.

6. Brampton Battalion ¬" 63 points (28-31-1-6) ¬" 2 games remaining (at OSH, vs. BELV) ¬" Battalion can still finish as high as fifth but trail the Frontenacs by four points, need two points or a Wolves ¬â¢ regulation loss to clinch sixth place. Potential playoff opponents - NIAG, OSH, OTT.

7. Sudbury Wolves ¬" 60 points (28-34-2-2) ¬" 2 games remaining (at BELV, at OTT) ¬" Wolves can still finish as high as sixth but trail the Battalion by three points. Potential playoff opponents ¬" OTT or NIAG.

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 ¬â¢ regulation loss. Potential playoff opponents - MISS.

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. Potential playoff opponents - MISS.

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 ¬" 95 points (45-17-1-4) ¬" 1 game remaining (vs. LDN) ¬" Attack have clinched first overall in the Western Conference. Potential playoff opponents - LDN or GUE.

2. Saginaw Spirit ¬" 85 points (40-22-3-2) ¬" 1 game remaining (vs. WSR) ¬" Spirit have clinched the West Division title and second seed in the Western Conference. Potential playoff opponents - GUE, LDN, PLY.

3. Kitchener Rangers ¬" 85 points (38-20-4-5) ¬" 1 game remaining (at LDN) ¬" Rangers have clinched third place in the Western Conference and will host the Plymouth Whalers.

4. Windsor Spitfires ¬" 82 points (38-23-3-3) ¬" 1 game remaining (at SAG) ¬" Spitfires will play the Erie Otters in the first round of the playoffs but need one point to earn home ice advantage.

5. Erie Otters ¬" 82 points (40-26-1-1) ¬" no games remaining ¬" Otters will play the Spitfires in the first round of the playoffs but will move up to fourth place if the Spitfires lose in regulation on Saturday.

6. Plymouth Whalers ¬" 78 points (36-25-2-4) ¬" 1 game remaining (vs. GUE) ¬" Whalers have clinched sixth place in the Western Conference and will play the Kitchener Rangers.

7. Guelph Storm ¬" 73 points (33-27-4-3) ¬" 1 game remaining (at PLY) ¬" Storm need to win on Saturday and have the Knights lose on Saturday in order to clinch seventh place. Potential playoff opponents ¬" SAG or OS.

8. London Knights ¬" 71 points (33-28-4-1) ¬" 2 games remaining (at OS, vs. KIT) ¬" Knights have clinched a playoff spot but can still finish as high as seventh trailing Guelph by two points. Potential playoff opponents - OS or SAG.

9. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds ¬" 56 points ¬" (24-35-5-3) ¬" 1 games remaining (vs. SAR) ¬" Greyhounds have been eliminated from the playoff race and will select fourth overall in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection if they defeat the Sting on Saturday to maintain ninth place, otherwise they will select third overall if they slip to tenth place.

10. Sarnia Sting ¬" 55 points (24-36-5-2) ¬" 1 game remaining (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 beat the Greyhounds on Saturday and move up to ninth.

Here is an overview of the OHL Playoff Format and Tiebreaking System:

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.

Be sure to follow www.ontariohockeyleague.com for updated standings, playoff scenarios, and schedules as they become available.

Check out the Ontario Hockey League Statistics

Ontario Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2011

Road to the 2011 OHL Playoffs - OHL
Spits Host Erie in Round One Thursday Night - Windsor Spitfires
Majors Sweep The Battle Of Peel Region - Mississauga St. Michael's Majors
Rangers Fall 4-1 To Plymouth - Kitchener Rangers
Otters Beat Spirit 4-2 - Saginaw Spirit
Varone scores late for Otters in 4-2 win - Erie Otters
Spitfires Host Merchandise Sale Next Week - Windsor Spitfires
Attack Announce Tentative First Round Schedule - Owen Sound Attack

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.