67’s meet Battalion for four-point game in North Bay

For both sides, it’s the biggest game of the season thus far, as the Ottawa 67’s (21-31-3-6) take on the North Bay Battalion (24-32-5-0) in their continued battle for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Puck drop from the Boart Longyear Memorial Gardens is at 2 p.m. You can catch all of the action on Rogers TV or CHLTV, and hear Kenny Walls’ call on TSN 1200.

The Barber Poles currently sit two points back of the Battalion for the final playoff position, and with only seven games left on the schedule (including this one), they could really use these two points. This weekend, they took a pair of losses to the Peterborough Petes, falling in the shootout yesterday afternoon.

It was the 67’s veterans producing the offence yesterday, with goals coming from Luca Pinelli, Will Gerrior, and Matthew Mayich. Filip Ekberg has been hot recently, winning the OHL’s Rookie of the Week last week.

North Bay has both a win and a loss this weekend, taking down the Niagara IceDogs on Thursday, but falling in a slim 2-0 loss against the Brampton Steelheads on Friday. Against Niagara, Jacob LeBlanc, Jacob Therrien, and Lirim Amidovski all had multi-point games.

In his last 13 games, Therrien is running at a point-per-game pace, and has five points in five games against the 67’s this season.

The 67’s hold a 3-2 advantage in the season series, and are looking to clinch a win this afternoon.

By the numbers

Keys to the game

• Big moments

This game will have the intensity of a playoff game, but you can’t shy away from it. Embrace it, and go grab two points.

• Grind

No matter what happens, put your head down and go to work. Roll with the punches.

• Everyone

It takes everyone to make the playoffs. If you’re dressed and on the bench, know that it could come down to you.