Preview: Playoff Implications A Plenty, Attack Prep for Storm & Rangers
The Owen Sound Attack continue their playoff push this weekend with two critical Western Conference matchups against the Storm in Guelph on Friday night at 7:07pm, then back home at the Bayshore on Saturday night against the Kitchener Rangers at 7pm. With the Attack deeply embattled in a tight race for the final two playoff spots in the Western Conference, both these games present critical opportunities to score valuable points in the standings. With a win over the Flint Firebirds on Wednesday night, the Attack pushed themselves past the SOO Greyhounds by a point for 8th place, with the Sarnia Sting now sitting only a point ahead of the Attack in the standings for 7th place, a win on Friday and Saturday could go a long way to solidifying a playoff position for the Bears.
Friday night marks the second last matchup of the season between the Attack and Storm. Guelph should not be underestimated, winning four of the five matchups against the Attack this season and attempting find a way to get back in the playoff picture. The Attack must bring a full sixty minute effort to the Sleeman Center Friday night if they want to return home with two points. The Bears will look for offence from Landen Hookey and Ben Cormier who found success against the Storm this season, Hookey potting a hat trick in a 6-4 win and Cormier has buried two goals through 4 games. Fans will also have their eyes glued on rookie Pierce Mbuyi, who with a goal and an assist in Wednesday’s win over the Flint Firebirds is now only two points away from passing Joey Hishon and Colby Barlow for most points by a 16 year old franchise history.
Saturday also marks the second last game of the season between the Attack and Rangers, and the final regular season matchup at the Bayshore between the two foes. The Bayshore will be anticipating a hard fought battle, with five of their six games being decided by one goal. The Attack came out victorious 3-2 in a shootout in their most recent meeting on March 1st.
Tickets for Saturday’s game are down to Standing Room only which 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 cannot attend the games, Attack games can be seen on Rogers Television Georgian Bay (Channel 53), streamed on CHLtv and heard on 560 CFOS Bear Radio.
HEAD-TO-HEAD BREAKDOWN:
| GUELPH STORM | KITCHENER RANGERS | OWEN SOUND ATTACK | |
| RECORD |
18-35-5-4 10th in Western Conference |
41-13-4-1 3rd in Western Conference |
21-30-4-3 8th in Western Conference |
| LAST 10 GAMES | 1-7-1-1 | 6-3-1-0 | 5-4-1-0 |
| POWER PLAY |
45/232 (19.4%) OHL Rank: 14th |
52/230 (22.6%) OHL Rank: 10th |
37/236 (15.7%) OHL Rank: 17th |
| PENALTY KILL |
50/204 (75.5%) OHL Rank: 16th |
34/220 (84.6%) OHL Rank: 2nd |
48/255 (81.2%) OHL Rank: 5th |
| LEADING SCORERS |
Charlie Paquette (34-31-65) Jett Luchanko (19-32-51) Max Namestnikov (23-26-49) |
Adrian Misaljevic (30-33-63) Trent Swick(26-32-58) Cameron Reid (14-38-52) |
Landen Hookey (32-35-65) Pierce Mbuyi (26-20-46) Tristan Delisle (10-25-35) |
| GOALTENDING |
Zachary Jovanoski (3.80/.883/4W) Colin Ellsworth (4.24/.866/5W) |
Jackson Parsons (2.29/.920/35W) Jason Schaubel (3.58/.873/9W) |
Carter George (3.47/.905/14W) Matthew Koprowski (4.45/.859/8W) |
PLAYOFF PICTURE:
| POS | TEAM | RECORD | PTS | GR | OPPONENTS REMAINING |
| 7 | SARNIA STING | 21-30-5-7 | 54 | 5 | SOO, @BAR, @WSR, @KIT, GUE |
| 8 | OWEN SOUND ATTACK | 23-33-4-3 | 53 | 6 | @GUE, KIT, @BAR, @SBY, SAG, SAR |
| 9 | SOO GREYHOUNDS | 24-34-2-2 | 52 | 6 | @WSR, @SAR, @FLNT, @SBY, SAG, SAR |
| 10 | GUELPH STORM | 18-35-5-4 | 45 | 6 | OS, @ER, @FLNT, ER, @OS, KIT |
RECORD WATCH: Heading into weekend play he sits 4 goals back of the record for Most Goals by a 16-year-old in Franchise history, currently held by Colby Barlow (30), one point back of the Most Points by a 16-year-old in Franchise history, currently co-held by Joey Hishon and Colby Barlow (47) with just 5 games to play.
