Oshawa Generals clinch playoff spot with 11 games to play

With the new year fast approaching in the Ontario Hockey League the Oshawa Generals were on the outside of the playoff picture and desperately looking in.

Today the club is in second place in the East Division and playoff bound, after taking down the Barrie Colts 5-2 Sunday night to clinch a spot in the post-season.

The fortunes turned for the team after star forward and Colorado Avalanche first-round draft pick Calum Ritchie returned from injury in mid-November, and after a few games to find his legs and re-establish a rhythm the Generals and Ritchie both went on a roll.

Oshawa has gone 21-13 in their past 34 games, Ritchie was the league’s Player of the Month for January with 26 points in 13 games and the club, with still 11 games to go in the regular season, have already qualified for the playoffs.

Rasmus Kumpulainen was the first star of the game Sunday night, scoring twice, while four other Generals picked up two points. Jacob Oster stopped 22 of 24 shots for the victory, his 25th of the season in what has turned into an all-star calibre season for the Ottawa native.

Jacob Oster

Oshawa’s next home game is Tuesday, March 5 when they take on the Ottawa 67’s.