2015 OHL Playoff Tracker

By: OHL Staff

With 56 games still to be played in the 2014-15 Ontario Hockey League regular season schedule, four playoff positions are still up for grabs.

Here’s a look at the standings and playoff scenarios to date:

EASTERN CONFERENCE:

1. Oshawa Generals – 101PTS (48-9-2-3) with 6 games remaining (at OTT, MISS, KGN, at BELV, at KGN, BELV)
     – Generals have clinched 1st place in the Eastern Conference standings.

2. Barrie Colts – 78PTS (38-23-1-1) with 5 games remaining (OS, at MISS, PBO, at NIAG, KGN)
     – Colts need 9 points to clinch 2nd place and Central Division title but can still finish as low as 5th place.

3. North Bay Battalion – 75PTS (32-19-6-5) with 6 games remaining (SSM, at KGN, at BELV, OTT, at MISS, KGN)
     – Battalion can still finish as high as 2nd place or as low as 6th place.

4. Ottawa 67’s – 73PTS (34-24-4-1) with 5 games remaining (OSH, at BELV, at NB, PBO, SBY)
     – 67’s can still finish as high as 3rd place or as low 6th place.

5. Niagara IceDogs – 70PTS (33-25-2-2) with 6 games remaining (at ER, SBY, WSR, BAR, MISS, ER)
     – IceDogs can still finish as high 2nd place or as low as 6th place.

6. Kingston Frontenacs – 62PTS (27-26-5-3) with 7 games remaining (at PBO, BELV, NB, at OSH, OSH, at BAR, at NB)
     – Frontenacs can still finish as high as 3rd place or as low as 8th place.

7. Belleville Bulls – 57PTS (25-30-3-4) with 6 games remaining (at KGN, OTT, NB, OSH, SBY, at OSH)
     – Bulls can still finish as high as 6th place or as low as 9th needing 5 points to clinch a playoff berth.

8. Peterborough Petes – 56PTS (25-31-1-5) with 6 games remaining (KGN, at SBY, at BAR, SBY, at OTT, at MISS)
     – Petes can still finish as high as 6th place or as low as 9th needing 6 points to clinch a playoff berth.

9. Mississauga Steelheads – 51PTS (24-36-2-1) with 5 games remaining (BAR, at OSH, NB, at NIAG, PBO)
     – Steelheads can still finish as high as 7th place in the Eastern Conference.

10. Sudbury Wolves – 24PTS (11-50-1-1) with 5 games remaining (PBO, at NIAG, at PBO, at BELV, at OTT)
     – Wolves will select 1st overall in the 2015 OHL Priority Selection on April 11.

WESTERN CONFERENCE:

1. Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – 102PTS (50-11-0-2) with 5 games remaining (at NB, PLY, SAR, WSR, KIT)
     – Greyhounds need 2 points to clinch 1st place in the Western Conference.

2. Erie Otters – 92PTS (44-14-2-2) with 6 games remaining (NIAG, WSR, KIT, at WSR, at PLY, at NIAG)
     – Otters have clinched at least 2nd place but can still finish in 1st place.

3. London Knights – 79PTS (38-23-0-3) with 4 games remaining (KIT, OS, at OS, SAG)
     – Knights need 5 points to clinch 3rd place but can still finish as low as 6th place.

4. Guelph Storm – 74PTS (35-24-2-2) with 5 games remaining (at WSR, at KIT, KIT, OS, SAR)
     – Storm can still finish as high as 3rd place or as low as 6th place.

5. Owen Sound Attack – 71PTS (31-22-2-7) with 6 games remaining (at BAR, at LDN, LDN, PLY, at GUE, SAR)
     – Attack can still finish as high as 3rd place or as low as 7th place.

6. Kitchener Rangers – 68PTS (29-22-3-7) with 7 games remaining (at LDN, GUE, at ER, at GUE, PLY, at SAG, at SSM)
     – Rangers can still finish as high as 3rd place or as low as 7th place.

7. Sarnia Sting – 63PTS (28-28-4-3) with 5 games remaining (SAG, at SSM, WSR, at OS, at GUE)
     – Sting need 2 points to clinch a playoff berth but can still finish as high as 5th place or as low as 10th place.

8. Saginaw Spirit – 53PTS (25-35-2-1) with 5 games remaining (at SAR, PLY, at PLY, at LDN, KIT)
     – Spirit can still finish as high as 7th place or as low as 10th place.

9. Windsor Spitfires – 52PTS (24-34-2-2) with 6 games remaining (GUE, at ER, at NIAG, ER, at SAR, at SSM)
     – Spitfires can still finish as high as 7th place or as low as 10th place.

10. Plymouth Whalers – 51PTS (23-34-3-2) with 6 games remaining (at SSM, at SAG, SAG, at OS, at KIT, ER)
     – Whalers can still finish as high as 7th place in the Western Conference.

PLAYOFF STRUCTURE:

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 the Thursday 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.

TIE BREAKING 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 system is 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.

SUDDEN-DEATH PLAYOFF FORMULA (FOR FINAL PLAYOFF POSITION):

Between Two Teams: Two teams tied for the final playoff position will play a sudden-death game to be hosted by the centre determined higher in the standings by the OHL tie-breaking system. The winner will be declared higher in the standings.

Between Three Teams for One Playoff Position:

1. A sudden-death game will be played between the two teams having the lowest percentage as calculated by dividing the sum of goals ‘for’ plus the total goals ‘against’ into the total goals ‘for’. The home team will be determined by utilizing the OHL tie-breaking system.
2. A second sudden-death game will be played between the winner of the preliminary sudden-death game and the remaining team. The home team will be determined by utilizing the OHL tie-breaking system. The winner will be declared higher in the standings.

REGULAR SEASON TROPHIES:

Hamilton Spectator Trophy: Oshawa Generals or Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds or Erie Otters
The Hamilton Spectator Trophy is awarded to the team that finishes the regular season first overall in the Ontario Hockey League. The trophy was presented to the Ontario Hockey Association by the Hamilton Spectator in the 1957-58 season.  The winner of the Hamilton Spectator Trophy has gone on to win the OHL championship 23 times and the Memorial Cup 11 times.

Leyden Trophy (East Division): Oshawa Generals
The Generals captured the East Division title for the second straight year and fifth time in franchise history. They also earned division titles in 1991, as well as 1990 and 1987 before winning the OHL Championship in both years.

Emms Trophy (Central Division): Barrie Colts or North Bay Battalion or Niagara IceDogs

The Emms and Leyden Trophies were first presented in the 1975-76 season when the OHL was split into divisions with the expansion of the league to 12 teams. The awards originated in recognition of Matt Leyden and Leighton ‘Hap’ Emms for their contributions to junior hockey in Ontario.

Bumbacco Trophy (West Division): Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Greyhounds locked up the Bumbacco Trophy with their West Division crown for the second straight year and fifth time in franchise history. The club also earned West Division titles in 2008, 2005, and 1997.  The Bumbacco Trophy was inaugurated in 1994-95 when the league realigned into three divisions.  The award is named after former Greyhounds’ General Manager Angelo Bumbacco.

Holody Trophy (Midwest Division): Erie Otters
The Otters captured their fourth Holody Trophy as Midwest Division winners. The previous division titles for the Otters came in consecutive seasons from 2000-02 capped off with the club’s only Robertson Cup in 2002. The Holody Trophy, awarded in recognition of the contributions to the OHL by former Guelph and Owen Sound Platers Governor Joe Holody, was presented following the 1998-99 season for the first time with the realignment of the league into four divisions.