OHL Playoff Preview

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The Ontario Hockey League postseason gets underway tonight with two series dropping the puck to get it all started. While a few of the opening round match ups appear to be fairly one sided, there are also two or three that may go the distance as the two teams way a lengthy battle to move onto the second round.

On Tuesday we spoke with Sam Cosentino of Rogers Sportsnet who helped break down each series for us. Using that segment from The Pipeline Show as the basis, here is our OHL Playoff Preview...

BARRIE vs. SUDBURY
Game 1 - Thu Mar 18 7:30 PM Sudbury at Barrie
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:30 PM Barrie at Sudbury
Game 3 - Sun Mar 21 6:00 PM Sudbury at Barrie
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:30 PM Barrie at Sudbury
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Sudbury at Barrie
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:30 PM * Barrie at Sudbury
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:30 PM * Sudbury at Barrie

"Sudbury is a team loaded with talent but how they were just able to squeak in, down to the final week before they were official in, kind of amazes me. It's a team that could surprise you but i don't like this match up because with Barrie... to me I'd give them a slight edge over Windsor." Sam's Pick: Barrie Colts

OTTAWA vs. NIAGARA
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Niagara at Ottawa
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 2:00 PM Niagara at Ottawa
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:30 PM Ottawa at Niagara
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:30 PM Ottawa at Niagara
Game 5 - Sun Mar 28 1:00 PM * Niagara at Ottawa
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:30 PM * Ottawa at Niagara
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:30 PM * Niagara at Ottawa

"When Ottawa is healthy I'd put them in the top 3 in the Eastern Conference, maybe even ahead of the St. Mike's Majors. Tyler Toffoli is a sure first rounder, Ryan Martindale is probably a 2nd round guy. I like Ottawa in this series." Sam's Pick: Ottawa 67's

MISSISSAUGA vs. PETERBOROUGH
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Peterborough at Mississauga
Game 2 - Mon Mar 22 7:00 PM Mississauga at Peterborough
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Peterborough at Mississauga
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM Mississauga at Peterborough
Game 5 - Sat Mar 27 7:00 PM * Peterborough at Mississauga
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 7:00 PM * Mississauga at Peterborough
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Peterborough at Mississauga

"Mississauga's a team that is extremely hard working with an excellent goaltending tandem with Chris Carozzi and 2010 eligible J.P. Anderson. I like Mississauga in this one, probably a short one. I don't know if Peterborough's key guys (Austin Watson and Ryan Spooner) are 100%." Sam's Pick: Mississauga St. Mike's Majors

KINGSTON vs. BRAMPTON
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Brampton at Kingston
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 2:00 PM Kingston at Brampton
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Brampton at Kingston
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM Kingston at Brampton
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Brampton at Kingston
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 2:00 PM * Kingston at Brampton
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Brampton at Kingston

"I don't know if [Cody] Hodgson is going to be healthy enough in order for this to be in Brampton's favor. Having said that, Kingston has been the epitome of the inconsistent team all season long. I like Kingston in this series but I have a feeling that with how well [Patrick] Killeen has played and how much gumption Cody Hodgson has I see Kingston here in a long series." Sam's Pick: Kingston Frontenacs

WINDSOR vs. ERIE
Game 1 - Thu Mar 18 7:05 PM Erie at Windsor
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 4:30 PM Windsor at Erie
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Erie at Windsor
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM Windsor at Erie
Game 5 - Sat Mar 27 7:05 PM * Erie at Windsor
Game 6 - Mon Mar 29 7:00 PM * Windsor at Erie
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:05 PM * Erie at Windsor

"Erie... unless one of their two goaltenders really stands on his head, that's about the only chance I think they have to even win a game. Windsor is just so deep as defending champs and I don't think there is any complacency on their part. I am picking [Windsor] to come out of the West." Sam's Pick: Windsor Spitfires

LONDON vs. GUELPH
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:00 PM Guelph at London
Game 2 - Sun Mar 21 2:00 PM London at Guelph
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:00 PM Guelph at London
Game 4 - Thu Mar 25 7:00 PM London at Guelph
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Guelph at London
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 7:30 PM * London at Guelph
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:00 PM * Guelph at London

"Guelph is the hottest team going into the playoffs having won 9 of their last 10. London has amazed every single person - executive, coach, scout, fan and official in the OHL by amassing 50 wins and 100 points when really they have Nazem Kadri and a bunch of guys who work hard. Guelph could surprise London in this first round, I think it will be an excellent series and a long one." Sam's Pick: Pick'em

KITCHENER vs. SAGINAW
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:30 PM Saginaw at Kitchener
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:11 PM Kitchener at Saginaw
Game 3 - Mon Mar 22 7:30 PM Saginaw at Kitchener
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:11 PM Kitchener at Saginaw
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:30 PM * Saginaw at Kitchener
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 4:00 PM * Kitchener at Saginaw
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:30 PM * Saginaw at Kitchener

"I like Kitchener because I like their goaltending and their depth. Saginaw is probably a year away from really contending. Both teams are probably a year early from being true contenders but I see it as another long series and I'll give Kitchener a slight edge because they have a much tougher building to play in then they do down in Saginaw." Sam's Pick: Kitchener Rangers

PLYMOUTH vs. SAULT STE. MARIE
Game 1 - Fri Mar 19 7:05 PM Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
Game 2 - Sat Mar 20 7:05 PM Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
Game 3 - Tue Mar 23 7:05 PM Plymouth at Sault Ste. Marie
Game 4 - Wed Mar 24 7:05 PM Plymouth at Sault Ste. Marie
Game 5 - Fri Mar 26 7:05 PM * Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth
Game 6 - Sun Mar 28 7:05 PM * Plymouth at Sault Ste. Marie
Game 7 - Tue Mar 30 7:05 PM * Sault Ste. Marie at Plymouth

"Awesome series... Awesome series. These are two big, strong, tough, physical teams. This series will be a war, it will be the most entertaining series of the OHL's first round and maybe throughout the playoffs. I will give the Whalers a slight edge here and I think if there is anyone across the OHL that is poised to upset Windsor and maybe even eventually Barrie, a lot of people are saying it's Plymouth." Sam's Pick: Plymouth Whalers