Preview: Attack Playoff Aspirations on the Line, Ready for Colts, Rangers & Storm

The Owen Sound Attack enter the final week of the regular season in an unfamiliar position, having yet to secure a spot in the 2025 OHL Playoffs that loom large on the horizon.  The Attack remain entrenched in a battle with the SOO Greyhound and Sarnia Sting for the final two playoff positions in the Western Conference.  The Greyhounds currently hold a one point lead with 56 points over the Attack and Sting who sit tied for eighth at 55 points.  All three teams have three game remaining this week with the Attack set to visit the Barrie Colts on Thursday night and the Kitchener Rangers on Friday night before returning home to take on the Guelph Storm in their regular season finale on Saturday night.  All three games will be key to the Bears securing their 14th straight trip to the post-season.

PLAYOFF PICTURE:

On Thursday night, the Attack will make their final visit to the Sadlon Arena in Barrie in what has been a very tight season series against the Colts.  The Attack are 2-2-0-1 against the Colts this year having won the most recent game 5-1 on February 20th.  The Attack are acutely aware of Barrie’s balanced scoring prowess and will need to continue to find their own offence against a tough goaltending tandem of Ben Hrebik and Sam Hillebrandt.  The Colts head into the week having clinched first in the Central Division and at least second place in the Eastern Conference.

The stage is set for what should be another exciting game between the Rangers and Attack on Friday night at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.  This will be the eighth and final meeting between the two teams this season with six of the past seven meetings having been decided by one goal.  Unfortunately for the Attack, the Blueshirts hold an edge in the season series having won five of the games in regulation, while the Attack have taken home two victories, one in overtime and the other in a shootout.  To be successful on Friday night, the Attack will need to continue to play a full 60 minutes against the Western Conferences third playoff seed and shutdown the leagues 10th ranked power play while finding a way to capitalize on their own offensive opportunities.

The Attack will then return home on Saturday night to close out the regular season against another Midwest Division foe in the Guelph Storm.  The Attack will look to even up the season series at four games a piece and get a much needed two points in their pursuit of a playoff position.  However, the Attack will need to be ready for a Storm team that will be looking to play spoilers and atone for a 7-2 loss at the hands of the Bears a week ago.  The Attack will need to look down in the defensive end of the ice and ensure the foursome of Charlie Paquette, Jett Luchanko, Max Namestikov  and Lev Katzin are held in check.  Prior to Saturday night’s game the Attack will honour overage players, Landen Hooky, Alec Leonard and Bruce McDonald and encourage fans to come early and be in their seats for the pre-game ceremony.

RECORD WATCH:  Pierce Mbuyi heads into the final week of the regular season with one franchise record still within his sites, Most Goals by a 16-year-old.  Mbuyi heads into the final three games needing 3 goals to set a new mark, currently held by former captain Colby Barlow, who had 30 goals in his 16-year-old season.

Thanks to the great Attack fans Saturday’s game is down to standing room only.  Standing room tickets can be purchased at the MacVicar & McComb Sutton Realty Attack Box Office, over the phone at 519-371-7452 or online at tickets.attackhockey.com. If you can’t attend any of this weekend’s games, home or away, all three Attack games this weekend can be seen on Rogers Television Georgian Bay (Channel 53), streamed on CHLtv and heard on 560 CFOS Bear Radio.

HEAD-TO-HEAD BREAKDOWN: