It’s go time; Round 2 of the OHL Playoffs, the Western Conference Semifinal opens tonight in Owen Sound as the Attack play host to the Plymouth Whalers in Game 1 of their best of 7.
Historically, this is the third meeting between the two franchises as the Attack & Whalers split their series with the Whalers sweeping in 2003 and the Attack doing likewise in 2005 while in 1994, the old Detroit Junior red Wings swept the Platers of the day.
Those 3 series carry little significance now.
Regular season, although somewhat irrelevant now, saw the Attack win 3 out of 4 against Plymouth.
Here’s the relevant number, all 4 games, win or lose were decided by 1 goal including two Attack overtime wins, so there’s very little doubt this shapes up to be a tight series.
Here’s what I see in the Whalers.
Goalkeeper Scott Wedgewood, a New Jersey pick, is solid. Don’t know much about the backup, but if we see him, that could be good news for the Attack.
On the blueline, the Whalers primarily go with 5 guys fronted by Beau Schmitz whereas the Attack have a solid group of 6 plus others waiting eagerly in the wings.
And up front, the Whalers don’t have a star of Tyler Sequin’s magnitude, but make no mistake, they work very hard and are capable of all showing kinds of variations in terms of who plays where at forward.
Game 1 tonight, 7 o’clock at the JD McArthur Arena.
I’m Fred Wallace