Western-Waterloo open quarter-final series tonight at 7 on OUA.tv

BURLINGTON, Ont. – Before the McCaw Cup playoffs begin tonight, here are storylines and players to watch for the quarter-finals.  Fans can catch all the action streaming live throughout the postseason on OUA.tv.

No. 8 Windsor Lancers (11-1-10-2) vs. No. 1 Guelph Gryphons (16-4-3-1)

After hoisting the McCaw Cup trophy for the first time since 1998 a season ago, the Guelph Gryphons didn't miss a beat this year.  The Gryphons possess the most balanced team in the conference (if not the entire country) as Guelph led the league in both goal per game (3.17) and goals against average (1.31). 

Another key to Guelph's success on the ice this season was their ability to stay out of the penalty box.  Despite ranking seventh in penalty kill percentage (88.7), the Gryphons only found themselves shorthanded 62 times this year which ranks lowest in OUA.

Not only do the Lancers face the tall task of defeating the Gryphons twice in a best-of-three series, they'll have to do something no team has been able to do this year: beat Guelph at home.  However, if there's a team that can hang with the high powered Gryphons it's surely the Lancers. 

Windsor ranked second behind Guelph averaging 2.83 goals per game, thanks in large part to their success on the power-play.  The Lancers converted 17-of-101 opportunities for a 16.8 power-play percentage that ranked third in OUA. 

But it hasn't been scoring goals that has been Windsor's problem this year, its keeping them out of the back of their net.  As a team, Windsor had a .893 save percentage which ranked second last in the conference.

The Gryphons swept Windsor in their two-game regular season series, outscoring the Lancers 12-4 in the process.

Players to Watch

Guelph – G Valerie Lamenta: 19 GP, 1.38 GAA, .945 SV%, 2 SO
Windsor – F Krystin Lawrence: 24 GP, 23 G, 9 A, 32 PTS

No. 7 Laurentian Voyageurs (11-1-10-2) vs. No. 2 Nipissing Lakers (14-3-4-3)

You'd be hard pressed to find two bigger rivals in the McCaw Cup quarter-finals than the Laurentian Voyageurs and their northern nemesis, the Nipissing Lakers.

Coming off their best season in program history, it's McCaw Cup or bust for a young Lakers team looking to hoist the hardware for the first time. 

Like most successful teams, Nipissing has built their team from the crease out and it shows as they finished second in goals against average (1.51) and third in save percentage (.939).  Up front, the Lakers can score with the best of them as they found the back of the net 60 times over the course of 24 games during the regular season. 

Known for their intensity, Nipissing is a team that plays on the edge as witnessed by their 249 penalty minutes this year.  However, the Lakers will look to stay out of the box as much as possible as just one goal can drastically shift the momentum in such a short series.

The same can be easily be said for the Voyageurs who spent more time on the penalty kill this season than any other team.  With the eighth ranked penalty killing unit, Laurentian must keep their composure in what is expected to be a hard fought series between the two archrivals.

Nipissing isn't the only team hitting the ice Wednesday that knows how to score and score quickly.  The Voyageurs averaged 2.67 goals per game this year, ranking just one spot ahead of the Lakers.

The Vees are a "shoot first and ask question later" style of offence, averaging almost 30 shots per game which is the second highest mark in the OUA.

There will be extra incentive for a Voyageurs victory after the Lakers swept them this season.  Nipissing defeated Laurentian 4-1 back on Nov 12 but just one goal separated the two teams just two weeks later in a 3-2 Lakers win.   

Players to Watch

Nipissing – F Kaley Tienhaara: 24 GP, 7 G, 11 A, 18 PTS
Laurentian – F Morgan McCann: 23 GP, 12 G, 6 A, 18 PTS

No. 6 Queen's Gaels (9-5-8-2) vs. No. 3 University of Toronto Varsity Blues (15-2-7-0)

The Queen's Gaels and University of Toronto Varsity Blues have claimed the Judy McCaw Memorial Cup a combined 23 times since the trophy was rededicated in 1972.  However, with a quarter-final showdown looming, only one will see their #QuestfortheCup continue into next week.

The Blues are easily the most dangerous special teams group in the OUA.  Not only did they lead the league with 18 power-play goals but U of T also only allowed six power-play goals against in 106 times short-handed.  To make matters worse, Toronto might even more dangerous killing penalties as they found the back of the net a league-high five times while short-handed

In keeping with the trend of the previously mentioned top two seeds, the Blues are one of the most defensively solid teams in the OUA.  Toronto ranks in the top five in both goals against average (1.62) and save percentage (.936). 

While the Gaels possess the host berth in upcoming U SPORTS national championship, as anyone in the Queen's locker room and they'll surely tell you they want to earn their spot.

The Gaels are one of the most disciplined teams in the conference, playing short-handed just 74 times this season, the second-lowest total this season.  On the flip side, Queen's found themselves with 104 power-play opportunities during the regular season. 

Despite this, to say the Gaels struggled with the man-advantage would likely be an understatement.  Queen's converted just 5.8 percent of their power-play opportunities, the lowest mark in the league.   

Players to Watch

Toronto – F Kristi Riseley: 24 GP, 8 G, 11 A, 19 PTS
Queen's – F Katrina Manoukarakis: 24 GP, 4 G, 11 A, 15 PTS

No. 5 Western Mustangs (10-4-9-1) vs. No. 4 Waterloo Warriors (11-3-8-2)

Coming off a strong regular season, for the first time in program history, the Warriors Warriors will have home ice advantage in the opening round of the McCaw Cup playoffs.

Like the other top seeds, success begins in net for the Warriors as Waterloo ranked in the top five in both goals-against average (1.77) and save percentage (.923).

Another major reason for the Warriors success this season was their strength on both the penalty kill and power-play.  Waterloo found the back of the net a league-high 18 times while on the PP during the regular season, while allowing just seven shorthanded goals against.

If the Warriors hope to advance past the opening round, they'll need to score more than they did during the regular season to keep pace with the high-powered Mustangs.

Looking to make it back to the McCaw Cup final for a third straight season, the Mustangs are about as untraditional a fifth seed as it gets.  Western, who hoisted the McCaw Cup for the first time in program history two seasons ago, possess the best power-play unit in the league, scoring at a rate of 19.1 % while on the man-advantage.

Unlike their first round adversaries, Western has no problems finding the back of the net, averaging 2.83 goals per game.  However, unlike previous seasons, it was their struggles keeping the puck out of their own net that hurt them this year.

Western was a strong road team throughout the 2016-17 season and will need to keep that up in their quarter-final round matchup with the Warriors.  Despite being just .500 in their own barn this year, the Mustangs were one of the best teams on the road in the OUA with an 8-4 record.

The teams split their regular season series with both teams picking up crucial wins on the road.  The Warriors beat the Mustangs 4-2 in London back on Oct. 20 before Western returned the favour with a 2-1 OT win on Nov. 26.

Players to Watch

Waterloo – F Rachel Marriott: 21 GP, 9 G, 10 A, 19 PTS
Western – F Lyndsay Kirkham: 23 GP, 12 G, 12 A, 31 PTS