Wednesday 29 November 2017

OHL Power Rankings Week 10

We are slowly creeping towards the Half way mark of the season and the Christmas trade freeze. There are a couple of big games this week that will be must watch TV.

Hamilton (2) @ Saginaw (4)
Two of the hottest teams in the league as both will be entering this game with 8-1-1 records in their previous 10. Hamilton has the edge on paper but Saginaw wont make it easy for them. Even when the Spirit were struggling they made the Dow Event Center a difficult place to play for Eastern Conference teams.

Sault Ste. Marie(1) @ Kingston (5)
This is the 2nd match between these two teams as the Hounds too the first game 6-5. If not for a 2 minute stretch of odd bounces and blown tires the Hounds would have run away with it. Kingston though should feel confident that they were able to cash on their chances. This game should have a different feel than the first as I would expect each teams Starters to get the Nod in this one which didnt happen in their only other meeting this season.

Honourable Mention

Hamilton @ Mississauga
After going 0-3 this past weekend the Steelheads took a little bit of the luster off of this match. Still this could be a preview of this seasons Eastern Conference finals and will be a good barometer of who close the Steelheads are to being a threat. Was this past weekend just a minor blip or a harbinger of things to come?

What is Peterborough doing with Hunter Jones? One of the top goalie prospects in the OHL they rarely play him even though Wells has struggled and seemed over worked this year. Then this weekend the dont start him till their last game of the week against the Greyhounds and he gets blitzed for 8 goals.... The Bulldogs officially moved all in picking up Moore and Caamano, The cost was 2016 3rd overall pick Connor Roberts and a trio of draft picks. Not bad when you factor in the lack of development Roberts has shown so far... In keeping with the Bulldogs they get another boost this week as Mackenzie Entwistle returns to action.... The Generals announced that Bob Jones is slated to return to the bench at some point in January. This is huge news for the Generals and should provide a boost to their young team.

In the Central Barrie head coach Dale Hawerchuk coached his 500th career game. He became the 4th current coach to reach that number..... Sudbury and North Bay each picked up wins against a Nationally ranked team.... Niagara playing with out 2 OAs due to suspension picked up 5 out of a possible 6 points this past week

The top 4 teams in the Midwest are seperated by only 6 points. A tight spread that reprasents the 2nd and 8th seeds in the conference.... The Attack were without Suzuki and Hancock for the game in Guelph this past weekend which is a concern.... The Rangers looked slow vs the Greyhounds after a brutal Northern showing.... The Knights continue to streak and depending on how the puck bounces could be in 1st by Christmas.... Speaking of the Knights it looks like former player Brandon Prust has joined the team in some sort of coaching role.

Soo Greyhounds bench boss Drew Bannister picked up his 100th career win as a head coach... The Sting continue to win and keep up with the Greyhounds... The Firebirds started their sell off but dont have much left in terms of tradable assets.... Once looking like sellers the Spirit now look like a team who are building for something great over the next 2 seasons....




(1) Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds 20-3-2 Power Rank Percentage (PR%) .8569
The Hounds have won 11 straight games and have outscored opponents 58-23 in that stretch. Rookie Joe Carrol picked up his first 3 OHL goals this weekend while Morgan Frost finished with a goal and 7 assists.
Games this week: Nov 30 @ Pbo; Dec 1 @ Kgn; Dec 3 @ Ott

(2) Hamilton Bulldogs 14-6-5 PR% .7309
The Bulldogs picked up 5 out of a possible 6 points this weekend and move into 2nd place in the Power Rankings which is their highest spot on the year. Rookie Narvin Mutter picked up his first 2 OHL goals this weekend while the newly acquired Nicolas Caamano returned home and picked up a goal and an assist in his first game. Against Oshawa Benjamin Gleason became the first Dman to pick up a hat trick for the franchise since Jordan Subban did so with the Belleville Bulls.
Games this week: Nov 30 @ Sag; Dec 1 @ Fli; Dec 3 vs Miss

(3) Sarnia Sting 21-4-1 PR% .7300
How good have the Sarnia special teams been this year? Well not only do they have the top Power Play and the top Penalty kill but their special teams right now are a +20. Their special teams are more or less giving them a 1 goal advantage in every game they play. One of the reasons why this team has been so good.
Games this week: Dec 1 vs NB; Dec 2 @ Sag; Dec 3 vs Osh

(4) Saginaw Spirit 12-9-3 PR% .6935
The Spirit are 8-1-1 since picking up Mason Kohn from the Oshawa Generals. In those 10 games the OA forward has 12 points. He has also had quite the impact on Cole Coskey who has 15 points over those 10 games.
Games this week: Nov 30 vs Ham; Dec 2 vs Sar; Dec 3 vs Nia

(5) Kingston Frontenacs 13-7-5 PR% .6782
Take out the 5 game stretch where Dunkley was suspended and this team is 13-4-3. They have great goaltending. A top 5 defenceman in Rasanen. A top 10 forward in Robertson and a continually developing supporting cast that has this team well positioned for next year. There has been talk on if they will trade Helvig but will any team be willing to offer assets for the OA goalie that will equal the value he brings to this young and exciting team?
Games this week: Nov 29 vs Ott; Dec 1 vs SSM; Dec 3 vs Bar

(6) London Knights 12-11-2 PR% .6640
The Knights opened the week with a tough loss at the hands of the Sarnia Sting but rebounded nicely with a pair of divisional wins over Owen Sound and Guelph. After there horrid start to the season the Knights now sit
Games this week: Dec 1 vs Osh; Dec 2 vs NB

(7) Kitchener Rangers 15-9-2 PR% .6376
Well that was a rough 3 game Northern swing for the Rangers. The losses to North Bay and Sudbury were shockers. No way around it. The loss to the Greyhounds wasn't shocking but how bad and slow the Hounds made the Rangers look was. They looked slow against the Greyhounds and powerless against their Possession and puck movement game.
Games this week: Nov 29 @ OS; Dec1 vs OS; Dec 3 @ Eri

(8) Barrie Colts 14-7-3 PR% .6322
The Colts have the 5th best penalty kill in the league. Unfortunately they have been shorthanded the 2nd most amount of times in the league but if you look at it on a per game basis they are tops. They have given up the 7th most amount of short handed goals and average giving up 1 a game. This is one area they may look to tighten up. You dont want to drift to far from what has gotten you where you are but if they can cut out some unnecessary penalties along the way it could have a big impact.
Games this week: Nov 30 vs Miss; Dec 2 @ Ott; Dec 3 @ Kgn

(9) Mississauga Steelheads 11-13-1 PR% .5804
Well that was an unexpected week for the Steelheads. Similar to the Rangers they came into the week with 17 points in their last 20 games only to drop all 3 games. No shame in the home loss to Sarnia as they kept it close and the game could have gone any way. But to lose on Saturday and Sunday to Niagara and Oshawa, two teams that are struggling should definitly set off some alarm bells. Luckily it is only late November so there is still plenty of time for the Steelheads. The big test to see where they fit in the East will come in each of their next 2 sundays as they play Hamilton on both of those days.
Games this week: Nov 30 @ Bar; Dec 1 @ Sby; Dec 3 @ Ham

(10) Owen Sound Attack 13-9-1 PR% .5793
Just counting down the days till the '01 trade window opens up and they can acquire Michael DiPietro. 1st in the conference is likely out of reach. 1 if SSM or Sarnia could be catchable but hoping 2 stumble enough to catch them may be a little too far fetched. luckily for the Attack the Midwest has been enough of a disappointment that they can afford to be patient in addressing their goaltending needs.
Games this week: Nov 29 vs Kit; Dec 1 @ Kit; Dec 2 vs Gue

(11) Guelph Storm 12-10-3 PR% .5742
The Storm just finished a brual 6 game stretch where they faced London twice, Kitchener, Barrie, Owen Sound and Sarnia. They were able to pick up 2 wins over those 6 games which for this young team is quite the accomplishment. Giviai Smith finally picked up his first points of the season with a goal and an assist vs Owen Sound. Getting him going will be a huge boost for the Storm. At the very least Smith will be a nice trade piece at the deadline as more than a few teams would be willing to pay up to acquire him.
Games this week: Dec 1 vs Eri; Dec 2 @ OS

(12) Windsor Spitfires 13-10-1 PR% .5666
Nobody has been shorthanded few times this year than the Spitfires who have only been on the PK 87 times in 24 games which equates to less than 4 times a game. Conversely the Spits have only been on the PP 74 times which is just a fraction above 3 times  game. If you are a fan and only come to the games to watch the zebra's I suggest not watching Windsor play.
Games this week: Nov 30th vs NB; Dec 2nd vs Osh; Dec 2nd vs Fli

(13) Niagara Icedogs 11-8-5 PR% ..5644
A great week for the Icedogs as they picked up 5 out of a possible 6 points all against teams ahead of them in the standings. With this surge and the Steelheads floundering the Icedogs were able to build a 4 point cushion for 2nd place in the division.
Games this week: Nov 30th vs Eri; Dec 2nd @ Fli; Dec 3 @ Sag

(14) Ottawa 67s 13-11-2 PR% .5229
A disappointing week to say the least for the 67s as they only picked up 1 point in 3 games mind you it was a tough 3 in 3 road trip to Erie and the Golden Horseshoe. It doesnt get any easier this week with a road game in Kingston and a pair of home games against Barrie and Sault Ste. Marie.
Games this week: Nov 29 @ Kgn; Dec 2 vs Bar; Dec 3 vs SSM

(15) Peterborough Petes 14-12-1 PR% .5146
The Petes dont have much to complain about this weekend. They picked up a big home win vs Hamilton to start the week off then went to Sudbury and shutout the wolves. They wrapped up their 3 in 3 weekend on Saturday by being blitzed by the Greyhounds 8-3. It showed a rather large gulf between the Petes and the Elite of the West. They get a rematch vs the Hounds right away on Thursday. Their only game of the week so I would expect the Petes to leave it all on the ice.
Games this week: Dec 30th vs SSM

(16) Erie Otters 10-2-3 PR% . 4732
Otters star forward Taylor Raddysh became the 2nd OHLer this year to hit the 100 goal mark with his 2nd goal of the game vs Sarnia this weekend. Kyle Maksimovich is now up to 190 career points so he is next in the milestone watch. Unfortunately for the Otters they have dropped down to 9th in the West. With their inability to create a playoff cushion it looks like they will be picking in the top for next year with their inevitable sell off.
Games this week: Nov 30 @ Eri; Dec 1 @ Gue; Dec 3 vs Kit

(17) North Bay Battalion 8-14-3 PR% .4466
The Battalion only had a pair of games this past weekend. It included a big 5-4 home win over the nationally ranked Kitchener Rangers and then they followed it up with a tough 3-2 loss to Barrie where they were outscored in the 3rd period again. Time to start seeing what this team can do to speed up the rebuild.
Games this week: Nov 30 @Wsr; Dec 1 @ Sar; Dec 2 @ Ldn

(18) Oshawa Generals 11-13-2 PR% .4392
2 big wins this past weekend for the Generals and a tough loss to Hamilton in a game they outplayed the Bulldogs but ran into some questionable calls that ultimately cost them the game. Serron Noel continues to improve his draft stock with a player of the week performance. Definitely a name to keep an eye on if you are an NHL Draft watcher.
Games this week: Dec 1 @ Ldn; Dec 2 @ Wsr; Dec 3 @ Sar

(19) Sudbury Wolves 8-16-4 PR% .3970
An interesting week for the Wolves. They acquired former Spits backup Mario Culina. He did not start in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie on Wednesday instead McGrath did and he looked very sharp keeping the Wolves in it late. After being shutout by the Petes on Friday they stunned the Rangers on Sunday with Culina playing fantastic in net. With 6 games till Christmas the Wolves will be looking to make a move in the standings before it is too late.
Games this week: Dec 1 vs Miss

(20) Flint Firebirds 7-16-2 PR% .3162
The Sell off has begun. The one thing the Firebirds can hope for however is that the lack of development in Roberts is an issue with the Bulldogs being unable to develop talent more so than Roberts not being able to tap into his potential. There isn't much left on this team to trade but given the amount of future draft picks they have to play with getting a body back with the potential that Roberts has was priority number 1.
Games this week: Dec 1 vs Ham; Dec 2 vs Nia; Dec 3 @ Wsr

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