Friday Night Faceoff: Generals’ Barlow heating up at the right time

It took some time, but Oshawa Generals forward Colby Barlow has returned to form.

The Orillia native has been on fire of late, coming off a five-goal weekend and extending his point streak to nine games. His standout performance included a four-goal effort against arch-rivals, the Peterborough Petes.

Thanks to that dominant night, Barlow broke into the top 50 for most goals in OHL history, surpassing notable names like Corey Perry, Brad Boyes, and Nick Suzuki, with a current total of 143 goals. Barlow’s knack for finding the back of the net is paying off in Oshawa, where both he and the Generals have hit their stride. The team now sits second in the conference, just four points behind the Barrie Colts for first place in the East heading into Friday night’s matchup.

A former Toronto Marlboros standout, Barlow attributes his smooth transition from Owen Sound to Oshawa to the support of his teammates and coaching staff.

“We’ve got such a good group of guys and coaches that keep us in it,” Barlow told Adam Dunfee of Rogers TV. “We just stick to our game, and we know that the results will come.”

Regaining the elite scoring touch that made him the 18th overall pick by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Barlow has made significant strides in his game since being traded to Oshawa, however, it’s his growth as a complete player that has impressed Generals head coach Brad Malone the most.

“He was getting a ton of opportunities, but the puck just wasn’t going in. He didn’t allow that frustration to creep into the team game,” Malone told Jamie Thomas of the Winnipeg Jets. “He’s been a great example for our younger guys and even his peers on how to handle adversity. He’s been a great pro and has done everything we’ve asked of him—checking, playing a full 200-foot game.”

Barlow’s scoring prowess has solidified his reputation as one of the league’s top snipers, a fact well known to head coach Brad Malone upon taking the helm this season. As Barlow prepares for the next stage in his career, the first-year coach has been preaching to the winger on what to expect at the next level.

“I emphasized to him, ‘When you show up in Winnipeg, the top six is full. There’s a lot of skill there. If you want to be an everyday Jet, you need to buy into checking, playing within the structure, and still being able to score,’” said Malone.

After some initial adjustment, Barlow has settled in well in Oshawa following a successful run in Owen Sound. The 2023 Bobby Smith Trophy winner currently sits with 27 goals on the season, and has collected 17 points in his nine-game point streak.

The Winnipeg Jets first-rounder believes the fanbase and the lively atmosphere at the Tribute Communities Centre have played a significant role in his recent hot streak.

“The crowd gets us into it every single night,” Barlow said. “We love playing in front of them. They’re electric. They always fill up the building, and there’s always a good buzz around here.”

Barlow and the Generals will look to keep the home crowd on its feet Friday night as the Generals host the Barrie Colts. Catch the game streaming for free at 7:00 PM on OHL Live, YouTube, X, and Facebook!