Coming off of two tough losses to Windsor, the Mustangs finished the regular season in sixth in the OUA West. They head into the post-season with a 14-11-3 record, with a .500 win percentage.

The Mustangs will kick off their 2018 playoff run with a best of three series against the Ryerson Rams, heading first to Toronto to take on the Rams on Wednesday, before playing at home on Friday. If needed, game three will see the Mustangs head back to Toronto.

Mitchel Fitzmorris has been on an offensive tear for the Mustangs, scoring five goals in his last six games played, including two against Windsor last Thursday.

Captain Jonathan Laser has been a rock on defense, showcasing his composure and his ability to move the puck. Not only can he dictate play in his own zone, Laser also contributes to the team offensively, springing his team from the defensive zone for odd-man rushes, and adding a goal and five assist to the teams totals.

Luke Peressini continues to be one of the team's best players, anchoring the defense and stealing games. With a .920 save percentage, Peressini continues to be one of the top ten goalies in the league, with a top ten goals against average, and top five win percentage.

The purple and white special teams continue to be an important part of the Mustangs keys to success, as they continue to boast one of the best power plays in the league, clocking in with a 23.3% success rate.

Despite a rocky start to the season, the penalty kill continues to rise the ranks of the OUA, bumping up two spots from where it was this time two weeks ago. At a 78.8% success rate, the Mustangs have only allowed two goals when the other team was on the man advantage in 2018.

Western at Ryerson – Wednesday, February 14^th, at 7:00 p.m.
Western vs Ryerson – Friday, February 16^th, at 7:00 p.m.
Western at Ryerson (if needed) – Sunday, February 18^th, at 7:00 p.m.

Ryerson capped off their regular season at third in the OUA West, with a 16-9-3 record.

Riding a two game losing streak of their own, the Rams have struggled as of late, going 4-5-1 in their last ten games, with three of their four wins coming in narrow one goal games.

The Rams will be looking to return to their earlier season form, where they went 7-3 to start the season. Despite recent struggles, Ryerson is a strong contender, and will be looking to prove that in the first round.

Aaron Armstrong has been a presence on attack for the Rams, with five goals and six assists for in his last 10 games. Armstrong is one of the leading scorers on the team, with 9 goals and 20 points, putting him in the top five for the Rams.

The offense is rounded out by Matt Mistele, who has 14 goals and 19 assist for 33 points, and Alex Basso, with 14 goals of his own, as well as 14 assists, for 28 points.

Defensively, the Rams are middle of the pack, with just below the league goals against average, coming in with a 3.25 GAA. Their penalty kill sits in the middle as well, warding off opposing powerplays 80% of the time. However, their defense can also pack a punch, with Basso being their highest scoring defender, as well as a leading points scorer.

The Rams power play has excelled this season, giving the Mustangs a run for its money, at times surpassing them for top power play in the OUA. Currently, the Ryerson power play sits in second, with a 22% success rate, only slightly behind the Mustangs.

Basso quarterbacks the power play, with seven power play goals, tying him for second in the OUA for most power play goals.

The Mustangs met the Rams twice during the regular season, splitting the season series with a win each. The Rams triumphed over the Mustangs earlier in the season, with a 5-2 win, while the Mustangs responded with a 4-3 overtime win a few weeks later.