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Owen Sound wins in OT, Greyhounds lose Game 1 and Jared McCann: OHL post-game questions

Neate Sager

Barrie, Belleville, Brampton and Owen Sound were the victors on opening night in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. On with the post-game questions:

Western Conference

Owen Sound 2 Sault Ste. Marie 1 (OT, Attack lead series 1-0) — Will 'Hounds centre Jared McCann be back for Game 2 on Saturday? Sault Ste. Marie's second-best pivot was belted in the second period by the Attack's antagonist, right wing Cameron Brace, and did not come back to the game.

Sault Ste. Marie disclosed that McCann needed a trip to the hospital for observation. He is needed, seeing how he had 16 points in the final nine regular-season games. Without McCann, the 'Hounds could be a two-line team instead of three.

The 'Hounds did get a lift from their other gifted underage forward, Sergey Tolchinsky, returning early from an injury. His rate of chances created to minutes played was likely high.

Only one star for Attack goalie Jordan Binnington? The St. Louis Blues prospect stopped 36-of-37 shots, none bigger than a save with two seconds left in the third period on the league's best offensive defenceman (best defenceman, period), Detroit Red Wings prospect Ryan Sproul. Some regression is always possible, but Binnington made it appear like the Greyhounds will have such a hard time scoring that they will have to be airtight in their own zone. That's not a fait accompli for a team which allowed nearly four goals per game during the season. However, Pittsburgh-Penguins drafted goalie Matt Murray played one of his best games in his week with 36 saves.

Who will be Owen Sound's breakout scorer? The rap on the Attack is it counts a little too much on 'Camelcat' — Brace, Gemel Smith and Daniel Catenacci — for its scoring. But New Jersey Devils sixth-rounder Artur Gavrus, who repatriated in January after beginning the season playing pro in Belarus, was dangerous throughout the night. Sophomore centre Zach Nastasiuk had a strong night killing penalties and was denied by Murray on a second-period short-handed breakaway, so keep an eye on whether he produces in Game 2.

Eastern Conference

Barrie 3 Kingston 1 (with an empty-net goal, Colts lead series 1-0) — Will the Frontenacs have a better chance to beat Barrie in this series? Well, the more talented Colts got Bronx-cheered after taking 8:50 to record a shot on goal and yielded seven power-play advantages, yet still got out with the victory. Kingston losing was not due to a lack of chances. It stayed close thanks to overage goalie Mike Morrison's 41-save effort and the Colts striking three goalposts.

Barrie goalie Mathias Niederberger (33 saves on 34 shots) was stellar after getting beat on the first shot just 69 seconds after the opening faceoff.

Brampton 4 Sudbury 1 (Battalion lead series 1-0) — Why does Troops winger Matt MacLeod have it in for the Wolves? The big forward scored a hat trick last season to help Brampton win Game 1 on its way to sweeping Sudbury. Thursday, the Niagara Falls, Ont., native scored the opening goal 3:20 in and helped Brampton get the upper hand it needed to set a grinding tempo for the next 57 minutes.

Who does Sudbury need more from in Game 2 on Sunday? Well, probably all 19 skaters and the goalie. But Sudbury's de facto big line with captain Michael Kantor flanked by draft-eligible wings Brody Silk and Nick Baptiste were on the ice for the only two even-strength goals against the Wolves.

How was the attendance for the first home game of the Bramptons' last stand? You know better than to keep asking.

Belleville 8 Mississauga 1 (Bulls lead series 1-0) — How strong are the Bulls' chances of making this short 'n' sweet, if not painless? Better, in a word. Belleville, led by Vancouver Canucks first-rounder Brendan Gaunce (2G-2A, +3), showed no trace of the tendency to play down to the opposition it showed occasionally in the second half of the season. It scored two fast goals and took the first 11 shots before the young Steelheads even registered a shot on Malcolm Subban (25 saves on 26 shots). Belleville, now that the 10-fight threshold is waived, was also pugnacious. The game had five fights.

Day 2 docket — Niagara at Oshawa, 7 p.m. (Sportsnet), Sarnia at Plymouth, 7 p.m., Guelph at Kitchener, 7:30 p.m., Saginaw at London, 7:30 p.m.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.