{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/ELJgHfYf.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "The Oshawa Generals will contend for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, but does this team have enough to win a second straight East Championship?", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/ELJgHfYf-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ELJgHfYf.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/ELJgHfYf.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-FCwZ6hSe.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 113799, "filesize": 2446697 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-yFEE3fin.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 209776, "filesize": 4510198, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-LP3m9FhL.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 310160, "filesize": 6668447, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-HtkgWK6t.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 396860, "filesize": 8532498, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-LujUqHjq.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 406, "width": 720, "label": "406p", "bitrate": 475170, "filesize": 10216161, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-45aF8Qh8.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 851363, "filesize": 18304308, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-5AVuGz7X.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 1565890, "filesize": 33666649, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/ELJgHfYf-d01Y9bm6.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 1080, "width": 1920, "label": "1080p", "bitrate": 4327707, "filesize": 93045718, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "delimiter", "data": {} }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The logjam at the top of the Eastern Conference standings will provide an entertaining run to the end of the season to see who will get the first-place spot. And the Oshawa Generals are right in the thick of it. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "As of today, Jan. 23, two points separate the top five teams in the East:" } }, { "type": "list", "data": { "style": "ordered", "items": [ "Barrie - 56", "Oshawa - 56", "Niagara - 55", "Kingston - 55", "Brantford - 54" ] } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Brantford Bulldogs have made a huge surge to the top with their current seven-game winning streak, while the Niagara IceDogs have struggled, going 4-5-1 in their last ten. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Oshawa Generals were the top team in the East last season. They finished first in the Eastern Conference standings and won the Eastern Conference Championship series against North Bay, before being swept by the London Knights in the finals. " } }, { "type": "image", "data": { "file": { "url": "https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjEyMzI1OTI2MjA0MDg5ODY1/sinivuori-sennecke-torrance-img_7452-tim-cornett-ohl-images.jpg" }, "caption": "Beckett Sennecke (45), Lauri Sinivuori (42), and Luke Torrance (17) celebrate after an Oshawa Generals goal. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "This season, the offense remains potent, averaging 3.93 goals per game. They are tied with Brantford and Ottawa for the second-best powerplay percentage (26.8%) in the league and their 173 goals put them in seventh. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Upfront on forward, they have two star talents in Anaheim Ducks third overall pick Beckett Sennecke and Colorado Avalanche first-rounder Calum Ritchie who can single-handedly break a game open. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Not to mention the trade for Winnipeg Jets first-rounder Colby Barlow and the signing of Philadelphia Flyers prospect Noah Powell have been influential additions to the team's top six. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Powell in particular has been outstanding. He has two goals and five points in his first five games while riding shotgun with Ritchie and Barlow. " } }, { "id": "0e1hr8vu-b7wxm48i", "type": "embed", "data": { "service": "twitter", "source": "https://twitter.com/OHLHockey/status/1881150513728938183", "embed": "https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?id=1881150513728938183", "caption": "" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "An area of weakness for the Gens compared to the Barrie Colts and Kingston Frontenacs is their depth on forward. Both teams went out and made significant moves to bolster the depth of their forward corps and on paper have a better top nine than Oshawa. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Generals will have to rely on their game-breaking stars and lethal powerplay to do damage in the playoffs. But if they get shut down, can a player like 2025 NHL draft prospect Owen Griffin or overage forward Luke Torrance supply a secondary punch?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Oshawa finished last season with the second-best penalty kill and needs their PK to get back to that level of play before the playoffs start. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Their PK is ranked 16th in the league (76.2%). Additionally, they have the fewest shorthanded goals with only two on the year. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Now, defensively Oshawa on paper is one of the best teams. Going out and acquiring Andrew Gibson at the deadline from the Greyhounds made this team even tougher to generate offense against. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The team now has three smooth-skating, big right-shot defensemen who swallow up their opponents' time and space extremely well. He's also a solid defense partner for the puck-moving and offensively active Luca D'Amato, although both shoot right. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Running a top six of Andrew Gibson, Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford, Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Luca Marrelli, Luca D'Amato, Zackary Sandhu, and top 2025 NHL draft prospect Simon Wang is the kind of depth they will need if/when they go up against Kingston or Barrie in the OHL playoffs. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "In between the pipes, 2023-24 Goaltender of the Year Jacob Oster had a rough start to the season but has been much better since the beginning of November. There isn't a concern in net for Oshawa." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Generals are 6-3-1 in their last ten games, but those four losses have been by the hands of Barrie, Kingston, and two against those red-hot Bulldogs. Additionally, they allowed seven goals against in their two losses to Barrie and Kingston. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Oshawa has a few easier opponents coming up, including Peterborough and Guelph. Following those matches, they will face Barrie on Friday, January 31. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "This game is crucial not only for their standings but also to send a message to the Colts and the rest of the Eastern Conference that they are the team to beat." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Bookmark The Hockey News OHL site to never miss news, interviews, and any updates around the league." } } ] }

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