2018 OHL Playoff Tracker
Updated following games played on March 7.
There are still 53 games to be played in the 2017-18 Ontario Hockey League regular season schedule.
15 of the 16 playoff positions have been claimed however only three final rankings have been confirmed and none of the eight first round matchups have been determined.
Here’s a closer look at the regular season standings and playoff scenarios:
EASTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Hamilton Bulldogs – 88PTS (41-17-3-3) with 4 games (NIAG, at OSH, at NIAG, at PBO)
– Clinched the East Division title and need just four points to secure 1st place in the Eastern Conference standings.
2. Barrie Colts – 81PTS (39-21-2-1) with 5 games (OS, PBO, OTT, at SBY, SBY)
– Clinched the Central Division title and will finish no less than 2nd place in the Eastern Conference standings.
3. Kingston Frontenacs – 75PTS (33-21-6-3) with 5 games (OTT, at OTT, OSH, NB, at MISS)
– Can only finish as high as 3rd place or drop as low as 7th.
4. Oshawa Generals – 69PTS (33-27-3-0) with 5 games (at MISS, HAM, at KGN, PBO, SBY)
– Can still finish as high as 3rd place or drop as low as 8th.
5. Niagara IceDogs – 68PTS (29-23-7-3) with 6 games (FLNT, at HAM, WSR, HAM, at ER, MISS)
– Can still finish as high as 3rd place or drop as low as 8th.
6. North Bay Battalion – 66PTS (28-25-7-3) with 5 games (SBY, at SBY, at PBO, at KGN, at OTT)
– Can still finish as high as 3rd place or drop as low as 8th.
7. Ottawa 67’s – 64PTS (28-26-5-3) with 6 games (at KGN, KGN, MISS, at BAR, at MISS, NB)
– Can still finish as high 3rd place or drop as low as 8th.
8. Mississauga Steelheads – 61PTS (29-30-1-2) with 6 games (at PBO, OSH, at OTT, OTT, at NIAG, KGN)
– Need just two points to clinch a berth in the OHL Playoffs.
9. Peterborough Petes – 50PTS (22-34-3-3) with 6 games (MISS, at BAR, at SBY, NB, at OSH, HAM)
– Need to beat Steelheads on Thursday to stay alive in OHL Playoff race.
10. Sudbury Wolves – 39PTS (15-38-9-0) with 6 games (at NB, NB, PBO, BAR, at BAR, at OSH)
– Eliminated from OHL Playoff contention and will pick either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd overall in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection on April 7.
WESTERN CONFERENCE:
1. Soo Greyhounds – 108PTS (52-6-2-2) with 6 games (at WSR, at KIT, at OS, SAG, FLNT, LDN)
– Clinched the Hamilton Spectator Trophy as the regular season champions and will play either Windsor, Saginaw, Guelph, or Owen Sound in 1st round OHL Playoffs.
2. Kitchener Rangers – 86PTS (42-19-2-0) with 5 games (SSM, SAG, at GUE, at SAR, GUE)
– Clinched Midwest Division title and 2nd overall in the Western Conference, will play either Saginaw, Windsor, Guelph, or Owen Sound in 1st round OHL Playoffs.
3. Sarnia Sting – 91PTS (43-16-4-1) with 4 games (GUE, KIT, at LDN, at OS)
– Clinched 3rd place in the Western Conference, will play either Guelph, Saginaw, Windsor, or Owen Sound in 1st round OHL Playoffs.
4. London Knights – 76PTS (36-23-2-2) with 5 games (ER, at FLNT, SAR, at SAG, at SSM)
– Can only finish as high as 4th place or drop as low as 5th.
5. Owen Sound Attack – 72PTS (32-22-3-5) with 6 games (at BAR, SAG, SSM, at FLNT, at WSR, SAR)
– Can still finish as high as 4th place or drop as low as 8th.
6. Guelph Storm – 65PTS (28-26-5-4) with 5 games (SAG, at SAR, KIT, at KIT, at ER)
– Can still finish as high as 5th place or drop as low as 8th.
7. Saginaw Spirit – 64PTS (28-26-8-0) with 6 games (at GUE, at OS, at KIT, at SSM, LDN, at WSR)
– Can still finish as high as 5th place or drop as low as 8th.
8. Windsor Spitfires – 63PTS (29-28-3-2) with 6 games (SSM, at ER, at NIAG, OS, at FLNT, SAG)
– Can still finish as high as 5th place.
9. Erie Otters – 52PTS (21-33-7-3) with 4 games (at LDN, WSR, NIAG, GUE)
– Eliminated from OHL Playoff contention, will pick either 2nd, 3rd, or 4th overall in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection on April 7.
10. Flint Firebirds – 43PTS (19-39-3-2) with 5 games (at NIAG, LDN, OS, at SSM, WSR)
– Eliminated from OHL Playoff contention, will pick either 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th overall in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection on April 7.
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 have 14 days to finish while the Conference Championships are 13 days in length. The OHL Championship Series is 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, with the home team for such tie-breaker game being determined through the OHL standard tie-breaking system listed below.
For all other playoff positions, the following tie-breaking system is in place:
- The team with the most number of wins during the regular season shall be declared higher in the standings.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Greyhounds clinched their fifth Hamilton Spectator Trophy and regular season title with their 50th win of 2017-18. Previous Sault Ste. Marie titles include 2015, 1985, 1983, and 1981. 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 24 times and the Memorial Cup 11 times.
Emms Trophy (Central Division): Barrie Colts
Leyden Trophy (East Division): Hamilton Bulldogs
The Bulldogs earned their first East Division title since moving to Hamilton in 2015-16. Previously, the Belleville Bulls had won six times including their most recent in 2012-13. This also marks Hamilton’s first OHL division title since the 1975-76 Fincups.
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 earned their second straight West Division title and fourth in five years including back-to-back banner seasons in 2014 and 2015. The Hounds have won a total of seven West Division crowns including wins 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): Kitchener Rangers
The Rangers earned their third Midwest Division title in franchise history following 2003 and 2008 campaigns which both ended in OHL championship crowns. 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.
