George Burnett has a big decision on his hands this week.
As the Guelph Storm wrapped up the regular season with a 5-2 win over the Windsor Spitfires Saturday night at the Sleeman Centre, Burnett must now decide if it\s Owen Bennett or Jacob Oster who starts Game 1 of the playoffs in Sault Ste. Marie on Thursday.
"I guess you can say it's a tough decision. Both kids played well this weekend, which we wanted to see," said the Storm coach.
Bennett played very well Saturday. Oster played very well in a Friday win. Both have had their ups and downs throughout the season, but for the most part both have been playing well in their past few starts, although Oster missed some time with a concussion.
"It's a good tough decision to have. I think our guys have confidence in both of them," Burnett said, not tipping his hand as to who would get Game 1.
Whoever it is, they likely won't find out until Wednesday.
"They're both going to be prepared. I think the best scenario is to let them know the night before, before their head hits the pillow. That's how we've done it all year long," Burnett said.
Guelph opens its best-of-seven first round series with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds Thursday in the Soo. First home game, Game 3, goes Tuesday, April 26.
Valentin Zhugin led the way with a pair of goals Friday as the Storm handed Windsor its first loss in regulation in 15 games.
The Spits sat out several players, with Guelph sitting out Brayden Guy and Luka Profaca.
Zhugin, who turned 17 last December, finished the season with 17 goals, a solid total considering he didn't see a whole lot of ice time the first half of the season.
"There's no question about his ability to score. It was more about him being a young guy, coming into a new place, learning English from the get-go, familiarizing himself with life in North America and his new teammates.
"I have no question that he can be a prolific scorer ... there's no question that he's got big offensive skills. It's the other parts of the game and he's improved that."
Braeden Bowman, Danny Zhilkin and Michael Buchinger, the latter into the empty net, had the other Storm goals, as they outshot Windsor 44-24.
Rookie Ryan McGuire left Saturday's game after taking a check to the head from Windsor's Nathan Ribau in the second period. He was walking around after the game but Burnett had yet to get a full report from the team's medical staff.