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February 16, 2026

South Division Playoff Preview: #2 Durham Vs. #7 Bradford

Playoff pressure begins in Oshawa tonight.

The South Division playoffs begin tonight at 9:00 PM as the second-seeded Durham Roadrunners (29-10-3, 61 PTS) host the seventh-seeded Bradford Bulls (11-30-1, 23 PTS) in a best-of-three opening-round series.

Durham went 2-0 against Bradford this season, outscoring them 18-6 in the process. The Roadrunners enter as favorites—but short series can create chaos quickly.

Season Snapshot

Durham Roadrunners

  • 29-10-3 record

  • 250 GF | 122 GA

  • +128 goal differential

Bradford Bulls

  • 11-30-1 record

  • 102 GF | 196 GA

  • -94 goal differential

Durham finished second in the division with one of the league’s strongest offensive and defensive profiles. Bradford battled through a difficult year but now faces a clean playoff slate.

Offensive Depth — And Deadline Boost

Durham’s offense is headlined by elite production:

  • German Gerasimov (71 PTS)

  • Timofei Ergardt (30G, 63 PTS)

  • Ivan Ponomarev (24G)

  • Multiple additional 30+ point contributors

But what makes this group even more dangerous is what they added at the deadline.

Yenri Jibb (13G, 23 PTS in 9 GP with Durham) and Jesse Aitken (15G, 29 PTS in 16 GP) were major late-season acquisitions who immediately elevated the lineup. Both bring scoring punch, playoff experience, and top-line upside, giving Durham another layer of offensive threat heading into the postseason.

Bradford’s offense is led by:

  • Anthony Tarsitano (33 PTS)

  • Diego Rodriguez (28 PTS)

  • Loenzzo Sullivan (27 PTS)

With Endika Fernandez moved at the deadline, the Bulls will rely heavily on their remaining core to generate offense.

In Goal

Durham will likely turn to one of two primary options:

  • Leonid Putilov: 9-4 record, .925 SV%, 2.50 GAA

  • Yaroslav Gurenkov: 17 appearances, .901 SV%, 3.58 GAA

Putilov’s efficiency makes him a strong candidate for the Game 1 start, but Durham has depth in the crease.

Bradford will likely go with:

  • Alex Rachel: Faced heavy workloads this season

  • Cameron Nippard: 5-4 record, .918 SV%, 3.09 GAA

If Bradford is going to extend this series, their goaltending must be a difference-maker.

Keys to the Series

1. Durham’s Added Firepower
Jibb and Aitken give the Roadrunners even more offensive balance.

2. Special Teams Discipline
Durham’s power play weapons can tilt games quickly.

3. Early Momentum
A Durham win tonight forces Bradford into immediate elimination pressure.

Schedule

  • Game 1: Tonight – 9:00 PM in Durham

  • Game 2: Wednesday – 7:30 PM in Bradford

  • Game 3 (if necessary): Date & Time TBD in Durham

Durham enters with depth, scoring, and home-ice advantage. Bradford enters as the underdog with nothing to lose.

That combination is what makes playoff hockey unpredictable.