The Erie Otters have the luxury of facing a travel weary Seattle Thunderbirds team, that flew from Seattle, to Regina, back to Seattle, and then to Windsor, all in the span of five days, while the Otters covered barely 200 miles of travel, from Mississauga to Erie, to Windsor.
Another seeming advantage that the Otters hold over the Thunderbirds is in goal. The Otters Troy Timpano had played 44 games over the course of the season, and is the Otters regular starter. The team knows his habits and how to cover any holes in his game. He played all 20 of the Otters OHL playoff games.