Playoffs begin

Dukes get ready to take on the Pickering Panthers

So it begins. For the 37^th year—since the team was formed—the Dukes are headed to the post-season. It has been noted in this column several times already that the prospect of doing so in 2026 wasn’t strong last year. It is a gift to Wellington fans. A gift from the players and team managers. They endured much noise and much doubt. Yet, they persevered. And so, here we go again.

Last week
We shall skim through the past week of games. The Dukes’ playoff ticket had already been stamped a week ago, and their opponent in the first round was all but assured. It was a week to work on some things and to get ready for Pickering. And to avoid injury.

Dukes’ netminder Royden Smith endured 50 shots in Collingwood on Tuesday, stopping all but five. Landon Marleau and Captain Sacha Trudel scored to make the fight competitive, but the Blues took this game 5-2. After the long drive to Leamington, the Dukes lost 7-0. Nothing really to say about this outcome.

On Sunday, the Dukes met the Lindsay Muskies at home. Just a night earlier, the Muskies had secured the eighth and final playoff spot in the East Conference. Sunday’s game, therefore, was more of an exhibition. Play hard. Play to win. But don’t get hurt. And really don’t get suspended.

Trudel led the way on Sunday with a pair of goals, Will Mitchell had a goal and an assist, while Zach Carrier generated three assists. Ethan Fredricks and Aiden Lee rounded out the Dukes’ scoring as they cruised to a 5-1 victory.

Onto Pickering
The Panthers won two of four regular-season games against the Dukes. Both losses were in the fall. In January, the Dukes and Panthers settled for a 4-4 draw. Last month, Wellington shut out the Panthers, winning 3-0.

Statistically, the teams are well-matched. The Dukes have the second-best power play in the East. The Panthers have the 5^th-best. Pickering has slightly better powerplay, ranked sixth. But they need it, as they are short-handed more than any other team than Lindsay. Wellington’s penalty kill is ranked 9^th at 76 per cent. Call it even.

In net, the Panthers are backstopped by Anthony Sciere, who boasts a save percentage of .918 per cent but has allowed an average of 3.02 goals per outing. Dryden Riley has a slightly lower save percentage (.916 per cent) and a marginally better goals against average of 2.95, but this is against a much smaller sample size.

Sciere played 39 games in the regular season, Riley just 14. Edge goes to the Dukes.

Much of Pickering’s early-season success was built upon the contributions of four Panther players who have since moved to other teams. Wellington, on the other hand, got better over the season, adding Liam Campbell, Landon Marleau, Aiden Lee, Cooper Woron and Cain Tucker. The Dukes also firmed up its back end, adding defenceman Tristan Williams and netminder Dryden Riley. Edge to Wellington.

Pickering’s most persistent offensive threat is Charlie Key with 63 points in 41—averaging 1.54 points per game. Followed by Matt Indovian and Jake Mallory. Marco Costante quarterbacks the Panthers’ power play and has generated 19 points in 20 games since joining Pickering.

The Dukes feature three lines that regularly produce on the scoresheet.

Pickering finished the season with a 7-4 record in February. Wellington has a bit more of a wobbly 4-7-1 record. Edge to Pickering.

Schedule
The first round series gets started in Pickering on Friday night. On Sunday, Wellington will host game two in the Dukedome. The puck drops at 7:30. Game four will be in Wellington on Friday, March 13^th.