GUELPH, Ontario – The Erie Otters might not face Kitchener in the first round after all.

With a 3-2 loss to Guelph, played in front of 4,979 at Sleeman Centre Friday night, the Otters fell to eighth in the Western Conference standings. Erie (32-28-5-2) stands one point behind the sixth-place Storm with one game left – tonight’s regular-season finale against London at Tullio Arena.

The Otters are percentage points behind Saginaw, which has a game in hand. If the OHL playoffs began today, the Otters would face top-seeded Windsor, defending league and Memorial Cup champion, in the opening round. Meanwhile, Guelph (34-29-3-1) would start the playoffs against Kitchener. The Storm head into the postseason on a roll. They have won four straight games and eight of their last 10.

Mathew Sisca’s power-play goal 7 minutes, 2 seconds into the third period snapped a 2-2 tie against the Otters. He scored less than 4 minutes after the Otters’ Greg McKegg scored his 37^th goal of the season.

Zack Torquato assisted on the goal – his Otters’ single-season record 61^st of the season. He broke Colin Pepperall’s mark of 60, set in 1997-98. Derek Holden scored Erie’s other goal.

- Victor Fernandes

Battle for sixth

The Nos. 6-8 seeds in the Western Conference:

(games through Friday)

No. Team        GL       Record            Pts.

6. x-Guelph       1          34-29-3-1          72

7. x-Saginaw     2          32-27-4-3          71

8. x-Erie           1          32-28-5-2          71

GL – games left; x-clinched playoff berth

Note: Top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.