Tight pack contesting conference race

BRAMPTON, Ont. – As the Battalion is finding, there isn’t much room to breathe in the Ontario Hockey League’s Eastern Conference race.rrWith the top eight only 13 points apart, the standings are tight among teams occupying the spots that carry a playoff berth. The Battalion has a chance to keep pace or better when it visits the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.rrThe Troops, with 70 points from 60 games, have a one-point lead over the Mississauga IceDogs atop the Central Division and are four points behind the conference-leading Peterborough Petes. The visiting Petes downed the Belleville Bulls 3-2 in overtime in an East Division clash Wednesday night and host the Kingston Frontenacs on Thursday night. rrThe Barrie Colts are four points behind the Battalion and the Sudbury Wolves six, while the Ottawa 67’s are seven points back. Belleville is eight behind and Toronto nine.rrThe Battalion has won three of its last four games, including victories last week over Ottawa and the Owen Sound Attack, but didn’t gain on the Petes, who have won five straight, or open a gap on the IceDogs, who had two wins and a tie last week.rrIt’s really tight up top, and it’s disappointing when you go undefeated like we did last weekend but at the end of it you haven’t gained any ground,” said Battalion right winger Brock McPherson. A good weekend will help us put some distance between us and the teams chasing us.”rrMcPherson said the tight race, which will end with the regular season on March 20, keeps the Troops motivated.rrIt definitely keeps us pumped up, because we know a win can keep us chasing first place but a loss can drop us down the standings. Playing for first place really gives us an incentive.”rrThe Battalion has won its five games against the Majors this season, but over the last month Toronto has been one of the OHL’s hottest teams, vaulting past Kingston into playoff contention on the strength of a won-lost-tied run of 8-2-2, including one overtime loss.rrWe’ve had some success against them this year,” said McPherson, who has a goal and two assists for three points against Toronto. rrBut the coaches have been letting us know that it isn’t going to be easy. They’ve been hot and they’ve been playing really well. We need to forget all the other games we’ve played against them this season. This is the only game we have to concentrate on.”rrMcPherson said the close quarters of St. Michael’s College School Arena suit the playing style of many of the Troops.rrIt’s small, and there isn’t much room. Our team isn’t afraid to mix it up, and that might be one of the reasons we’ve had some success there. For guys on our team who aren’t speedsters it’s a good place to play, because there isn’t as much skating but the skill level needs to be the same. You’re going to get hit and you’re going to have to give some hits. It’s going to be a great game for guys who like to get their noses dirty.”rrFans in the Brampton area can see the game live on Rogers Cable 10, with an audio simulcast available on battalionhockey.com.rrThe Battalion visits the Guelph Storm on Friday night before hosting Mississauga at 2 p.m. Sunday.r