Whalers Report: Bound for Playoffs

It's official: The Plymouth Whalers will go to the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. The Whalers' 4-3 win over Ottawa on Friday and a 7-2 victory over London on Saturday officially clinched a playoff berth.

Plymouth's run of 20 consecutive playoff appearances is the current Ontario Hockey League record. The Whalers missed the playoffs during their expansion season of 1990-91 and have made the playoffs every year since, according to a statement released Monday by team spokesman Peter Krupsky.

The 2011 OHL playoffs officially start on Thursday, March 24 and - as tight as the Western Conference race is - the Whalers are a long way away before finding out who they'll be playing in the first round.

Nine Western Conference games are ahead this mont for Plymouth (now 33-21-1-4, 71 points).  The Whalers play four of those games this week, beginning with a 10:45 a.m. match in Saginaw against the Spirit. That game will be broadcast locally on WSDP-FM 88.1 starting at 10:30 a.m.

On Friday, the Whalers host Saginaw; on Saturday it's a home game against Windsor.

The Whalers and American Red Cross will be hosting a blood drive on Friday from noon to 6 p.m. inside Compuware Arena. Anyone who attempts to give blood will receive a ticket to a regular season game in March. Fans can sign up through the e-donor site by going to: www.plymouthwhalers.com/page/blood-drive.

Friday's game also features $5 admisson for certain seats, sponsored by WYCD-FM 99.5. Saturday is Fan Appreciation Night.

The Whalers cap a busy week with a Sunday night game in Sault Ste. Marie against the Greyhounds.

For details on any of the games or the blood drive, call the Compuware Arena box office at (734) 453-8400.