Depth gives Bulldogs the edge

KITCHENER — And then there were four.

Well, heading into Tuesday there were actually five teams left in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs.

But either the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds or Owen Sound Attack will be history by Wednesday morning after Game 7 of their western conference semifinal Tuesday night in the Soo.

The lucky winner will face the Kitchener Rangers in the west final while the Hamilton Bulldogs and Kingston Frontenacs face off for the eastern conference crown.

So, for now, the east final, which begins Wednesday, is the only one to break down.

Here is how it looks: Hamilton (1) vs. Kingston (3) Season series: Hamilton is 4-10-1 but five of the games were decided by one goal. How Bulldogs win: Stay out of the penalty box for starters. Five of the 14 goals Niagara scored in the east semifinal came on the power play. Hamilton’s 13 penalty minutes per playoff game is about four more than Kingston averages. … Depth scoring is a definite strength. Nine forwards have six or more points (in just 10 playoff games) and that offensive assault could wear down the Fronts. … Closing out games is crucial. Hamilton let Niagara rally in the third period three times in the semis. How Frontenacs win: History isn’t on Kingston’s side as this is the first time the team has qualified for the east final in 25 years. That said, the club does boast four Memorial Cup champions (Gabriel Vilardi, Sean Day, Cliff Pu and Max Jones) and having that experience is certainly an edge. The Fronts are also better in net where veteran Jeremy Helvig has allowed just six goals in his past four games (all wins). He’ll need to outshine Hamilton’s Kaden Fulcher against the high scoring ’Dogs. Need to know: Kingston is 4-0 since Jones returned from a broken finger. The Fronts paid dearly to acquire the pesky forward from the London Knights (Sergey Popov and a second and third round draft pick) but Jones only appeared in six games before getting injured in late January. … Hamilton forward Nicholas Caamano is proving to be a clutch playoff performer and has at least one point in all 10 of the Bulldogs’ post-season games (four goals, nine assists). He had just two goals in the team’s final 20 regular season tilts. … Kingston beat Hamilton in seven games in the opening round of last year’s playoffs. Who’s out? Both teams are healthy, minus the usual bumps and bruises. Hamilton forward Matthew Strome missed one game against Niagara in the east semis with a neck strain while rookie Arthur Kaliyev has been battling the flu … Kingston defenceman Liam Murray is serving a five-game suspension for a hit to the head and isn’t eligible to return until Game 5.

Prediction: I like the pieces Kingston added at the trade deadline but Hamilton is the stronger team top to bottom. Bulldogs in six. Playoff record: 10-1 (not including Tuesday’s Soo-Owen Sound series, I had the Greyhounds to win).