Liam Greentree's Windsor Spitfires to Meet Aspinall, Battaglia's Flint Firebirds in Round 2 of OHL Playoffs

As the NHL prepares for the start of their postseason in a week and a half, the OHL playoffs are already in full swing with the second round kicking off on Wednesday.

The New York Rangers have a handful of key prospects leading the charge for their respective junior teams. Nathan Aspinall and Jacob Battaglia have been at the forefront of the Flint Firebirds historic first round sweep of the Owen Sound Attack. Now, they will face-off against a fellow Rangers prospect in Liam Greentree, who just led his Windsor Spitfires through a sweep of their own.

Greentree automatically became the Rangers top prospect the second he was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Artemi Panarin trade. A 6-3, 216 pound left-handed winger who plays a classic power forward-type of role, Greentree had a remarkable season in the OHL last year, collecting a total of 119 points. While he wasn't quite NHL-ready and had a significant drop in points production this season, Greentree has been a leader on a strong Spitfires team and has been a mainstay on their top line, leading the team in points throughout the regular season.

Through the first round of the postseason, Greentree continues to lead his team in points, tied with defenseman Jakub Fibigr with seven points in four games. The Spitfires would go on to sweep the Guelph Storm in round one of the OHL Playoffs.

Game 1: Windsor Spitfires Win 4-0, Greentree 1 G, 1 A

Greentree had a goal and an assist in Windsor's game one victory over Guelph to open round one of the postseason. After establishing a 2-0 lead through two periods of play, Greentree had the primary assist on Jakub Fibigr's power play goals to extend their lead to 3-0. About five minutes into the third, Greentree was running point on the power play and set himself up for a one timer opportunity. While the shot was stopped by Guelph's netminder, Fibigr came in to convert on the rebound.

Roughly ten minutes later, Greentree picked up a goal of his own and a beauty of a goal it was. After receiving a long breakout pass from the defender, Greentree entered the offensive zone on the right wing side where he had a one-on-one to get to the net. Pulling off a slick backhand toe drag to bring the puck back to his forehand, Greentree tucked the puck in on his backhand. It wasn't quite "The Forsberg," but it was pretty darn close. Just an incredible individual effort to finalize the score 4-0.

Game 2: Windsor Spitfires Win 4-1, Greentree 2 G, 0 A

Greentree had a pair of goals in this one, including what went on to become the game-winner. With the score tied at two midway through the second, Greentree walked in towards the slot from the right face-off dot and beat Guelph's netminder with a clean wrist shot. He later picked up an empty net goal after intercepting the puck in the neutral zone to make it a 4-1 win, pushing Windsor to a 2-0 lead in the series.

Game 3: Windsor Spitfires Win 2-1, Greentree 0 G, 0 A

Greentree would be held pointless in a much closer game three. But, thanks to a pair of goals from John McLaughlin, the Spitfires still came out on top, winning by a score of 2-1. Greentree was a -1 on the night but still helped generate offense as the Spitfires out-shot the Storm 37-28.

Game 4: Windsor Spitfires Win 11-3, Greentree 1 G, 2 A

After Guelph took a 1-0 lead on a penalty shot late in the first, Greentree answered for his team just over a minute later. It was another outstanding play by Greentree as he received a pass from below the goal line and cut to his backhand to get around the defender and lift the puck past the goaltender, tying the game 1-1. At the end of the opening period, the Spitfires trailed 2-1 but with 35 seconds to go, Greentree assisted on a Jack Nesbitt goal to tie the game back up, now 2-2. He would pick up another assist on a power play for Windsor's sixth goal of the game.

One thing that has been evident throughout the season, and has continued in the postseason, is that Greentree has been a bit of a power play merchant for the Spitfires. Many of his points throughout the season, as well as in the playoffs, have come when his team has the man advantage. However, his ability to score big goals and dazzle with his individual skill has also been on full display. It's clear that he is ready to graduate from the OHL and begin his professional career next season with either the Hartford Wolf Pack or the Rangers.

For now, the Spitfires will continue to lean on their captain as they are set to take on the Flint Firebirds in round two.

If there was ever a series of junior hockey for Rangers fans to tune into, it's certainly this one, as top prospects Nathan Aspinall, Jacob Battaglia, and Liam Greentree will be key players to watch in an exciting round two match-ups. All three will look to finish their junior careers with a championship, but following this round, one or two of them will fail to meet that goal. The winner will advance to the Conference Final to take on the winner of the series between the Kitchener Rangers and the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

Round two kicks off Friday, April 10th in Windsor, Ontario. The teams have played each other six times this season with both sides winning three games each. Throughout those meetings, Greentree has collected five goals and three assists, Aspinall has had three assists, and Battaglia had one goal ,but did not appear in all six of those games as he was traded to Flint mid-season.