All-American Showdown: Erie Otters vs. Saginaw Spirit Kick Off OHL Playoffs
The Erie Otters won't require passports for their approaching Ontario Hockey League playoff series.
Erie will continue to be present on United States roads during its Western Conference first-round matchup with the Saginaw Spirit. The opening game of their best-of-seven series is set for Thursday at the Dow Event Center.
The fourth-seeded Spirit will host the first two games at their Michigan rink, followed by games three (April 1) and four (April 3) at Erie Insurance Arena. If needed, a sixth game (April 7) also would be held there.
The Erie and Saginaw teams are participating in their initial Robertson Cup playoffs since the OHL’s 2016 event. That year, the Otters, who were the top seeds in the conference, swept the Spirit in the opening round.
The competing team, the London Knights, knocked out Erie during the conference finals.
Season series
Erie and Saginaw divided their four regular-season matches, with both teams having an equal record of 1-1 when playing away from home.
The results encompassed the Otters' dominant 8-2 win at home on December 14th. Their outstanding performance during the first period, where they scored 5 goals, marked their team’s second-most prolific outing of the season.
In the single matchup of this year between these two teams, Saginab secured a victory with a score of 6-2 in Erie. This game on January 10th took a backseat to an event that occurred prior to the start of play, as the Otters ceremonially retired Connor McDavid's No. 97 jersey.
Over 6,600 enthusiasts packed the EIA facility for an event that paid tribute to the present team. Edmonton Oilers celebrity, who performed here from 2012-15.
Erie's series notables
No. 98 Pano Fimis, central part: During the regular season, he stood out as the Otters' top offensive player. With his team-leading total of 86 points—comprising 32 goals—he secured the 16th spot in league rankings.
No. 33 Sam Alfano, playing as a right winger: Similar to Fimis, his OHL career will come to an end when Erie’s playoff journey concludes. He led the team with 41 goals, which featured a hat trick in their December 14 win against Saginaw.
No. 17 Malcolm Spence, winger: His 32 goals put him level with Fimis for second place, just behind Alfano's tally.
No. 1 Noah Erliden, who plays as a goalie: The goaltender from Sweden, selected by Erie in last August's OHL import draft, recorded a record of 28 wins, 18 losses, 4 ties, and 2 overtime losses, along with a goals-against average of 3.42 during his initial season in North America.
Erie heads into the postseason without its top two players, defenseman Matthew Schaefer and center Carey Terrance.
During a December 27 match at the IIHF World Junior Championship, Schaefer, who was part of Team Canada, fractured his right collarbone. Despite not having played since then, he remains projected as the top choice overall in this summer’s draft according to the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. The athlete hails from Stoney Creek, Ontario.
Terrence, who leads the Otters as their team captain, recorded 20 goals along with 19 assists before experiencing a harsh hit during Erie’s game on February 14 against Owen Sound. Previously, Anaheim Ducks The draft pick was carried off the ice on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital, though he was later discharged.
Terrence, similar to Schaefer, has been absent from play as well.
The Otters' coach, Kris Mallette, mentioned during a press conference early this week that they are waiting for clearance from the medical team before the players can come back.
Saginaw's series notables
No. 77 Michael Misa, positioned at center: Demonstrated this season why Saginaw picked him as the top choice in the first round of the 2022 OHL Draft. With his impressive tally of 134 points (comprising 62 goals and 72 assists), he topped both the OHL and all of the CHL.
No. 19 Zaine Parekh, defender: Would be the team's key player if not for Misa. The NHL's first-round selection last year. Calgary Flames amassed 107 points, ranking as the fifth-highest total throughout the OHL's regular season, and stood at number two in terms of assists with 74.
No. 7 Calem Mangone, playing as a left winger: Profited from the contributions of Misa and Parekh, accumulating 33 goals and 50 assists throughout the regular season.
No. 31 Kaleb Papineau, who plays as a goalie: Since Andrew Oke’s injury on February 27, he has been Saginab's consistent goalkeeper. In total, he has made 23 appearances with a record of 12 wins and 6 losses, maintaining a goals-against average of 3.56.
Other OHL matchups
The Erie and Saginaw teams make up one of two Western Conference series beginning on Thursday. Additionally, the seventh-seeded Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds will kick off their playoff round against the second-seeded Windsor Spitfires.
This Friday kicks off the series featuring the top-seeded London Knights, who are the reigning champions of the league, against the eighth-seeded Owen Sound Attack. Rounding out this section of the league’s overall Robertson Cup bracket are the sixth-seeded Flint and the third-seeded Kitchener.
In the Eastern Conference series of the league, the matchups are as follows: No. 8 North Bay versus No. 1 Brantford; No. 7 Niagara against No. 2 Barrie; No. 6 Sudbury facing off with No. 3 Kingston; and No. 5 Brampton clashing with No. 4 Oshawa.
Erie-Saginaw schedule
Thursday: Erie vs. Saginaw, 7:05 PM
Saturday: Erie vs. Saginaw, 7:05 PM
Tuesday: Saginab vs Erie, 7 PM
April 3: Saginab versus Erie, 7 p.m.
April 5: Erie at Saginaw, 7:05 PM (if needed)
April 7: Saginaw versus Erie, 7 p.m. (if needed)
April 8: Erie vs. Saginaw, 7:05 p.m. (if needed)
Reach out to Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
The article initially appeared in the Erie Times-News. The opening games of the OHL playoffs feature the All-American matchup between the Erie Otters and the Saginaw Spirit.
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