Attack set to face Knights on Sportsnet

Tune in to Sportsnet East, Ontario and Pacific Friday night for a highly anticipated Midwest Division tilt as the Owen Sound Attack pay a visit to the CHL’s seventh-ranked London Knights at 7:30pm ET.

It’s Teddy Bear Toss Night in London and the Knights will be hungry for a win after falling to the OHL’s first place Peterborough Petes 3-2 on Thursday night. The road loss put an end to London’s seven-game winning streak as draft eligible winger Antonio Stranges (14-9–23) had a pair of goals in the loss.

OHL scoring leader Connor McMichael was held off the scoresheet for the first time in 17 games on Thursday. The Washington Capitals prospect has put up 56 points (25-31–56) over 25 games this season and will attend Hockey Canada’s National Junior Team Selection Camp in Oakville alongside Knights teammate Liam Foudy (13-12–25) next week.

Connor McMichael is lighting up the @OHLHockey ???? Will @AttackOHL be able to slow down McMichael and the @GoLondonKnights?

Catch @CHLHockey action tomorrow as Owen Sound travels to London in this Friday night showdown on Sportsnet and SN NOW. https://t.co/vMsgyF5Mcz pic.twitter.com/X2G43Gkkfw

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 6, 2019

The Attack head into London off back-to-back overtime wins on home ice, defeating Niagara and Saginaw in the past week. The Bears reaped the benefits of the return of forward Matthew Struthers (12-12–24) to the club on Wednesday as the overage centreman scored the overtime game winner. Struthers, who was acquired from the North Bay Battalion, entered the league with the Attack after he was a third round pick by the club in 2015.

Owen Sound has spread the scoring around this season as veteran playmaker Sergey Popov (6-26–32) sits atop the team’s scoring list followed by captain Aidan Dudas (11-19–30), hard-working forward Barret Kirwin (14-14–28) and overage defenceman Brady Lyle (6-20–26).

Attack netminder Mack Guzda currently leads the OHL in minutes played (1,331) and has faced the second-most shots (746) in the league this season.

This Knights and Attack square off in their third of six matchups this season, with both sides taking a win in their prior meetings.