Playoff Bound Already

Maybe it is us but it just seems really strange that Casey Cizikas (NYI 2009 4th) and his Mississauga St. Michael's Majors clinched a spot in the OHL playoffs after a 7-1 rout of the Sarina Sting.

Cizikas scored the Major's 2nd goal of the game at 7:52 of the first period on the power play. That goal proved to be the game winner for the Majors who became the first team in the CHL to clinch a playoff spot this season.

It was goal number 26 for the Captain of the Majors a new career high as well as his 10th power play goal and his 5th game winner as Cizikas is among the OHL leaders in both areas. Being a +35 (3rd in the OHL) is not something to overlook either.

This game was a massacre that really needed a mercy rule as the Majors fired 36 shots (the Sting only had 5) on the Sarina goalie in the first period alone (Sarina had 29 for the game) on their way to 59 shots for the game. Cizikas also had the primary assist on Alex Cord's goal at 17:00 which made the score 4-0.

Cizikas leads the Islander prospects in all 3 areas of scoring (26-27-53) as well as the plus/minus.

Still a playoff spot clinched on January 30th somehow just does not seem right but the Majors should realize how fast a team can fall in the CHL. The team which made this early clinching possible especially was last season's Eastern Conference Champions the Barrie Colts

Last year's champs is this season's cellar dwellers as the Colts who were 59-9-0-2 for 116 points last year are 9-35-2-2 for 22 points or 54 points behind the conference leading Majors. In the CHL, it is not hard to go from champ to chump so hopefully the Majors remember that as they play out their remaining 21 regular season games.

In the QMJHL, Ryan Bourque (NYR 2009 3rd) and his Quebec Remparts received a 6-2 spanking at home from the Victoriaville Tigre. Bourque was scoreless for the 2nd straight game which is a first for this season.

Bourque was also a season high -3 as the Remparts saw a 2 game winning streak end.

Kirill Kabanov (NYI 2009 3rd) missed his 2nd straight game with what is being called an illness but his Lewiston Maineaics did not miss him defeating the Chicoutimi Saguenéens 5-2 for their 3rd straight win. It is sad that with a Kabanov you have to hold your breath wondering if when he misses a game that it was old habits resurfacing.

So far we have not heard anything bad out of Lewiston regarding the talented but troubled young Russian and we hope he does find himself as nothing is more frustrating than seeing a world class talent go to waste.

(Cizikas/Aaron Bell/OHL Images)