The Owen Sound Attack will look to continue their momentum from a strong weekend of games against the Erie Otters with a tilt in Barrie on Thursday night.
The Attack and Colts will be meeting for the 4th time this season when the puck drops at 7:30 pm on Feb. 19, and Owen Sound will be looking to even the season series at two games apiece. Barrie took the two previous games by scores of 4-2 and 2-1 after the Attack romped to a 6-1 victory earlier in the season.
The Attack enter Thursday night's game with a record of 24-19-2-7, good for 57 points and 6th place in the Western Conference. The Colts are currently in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference by way of their 35-17-1-1 record which has garnered them 72 points. Barrie will prove to be a good measuring stick for the Attack, as the Colts are riding a seven game winning streak and are led into action by 40-goal-scorer Joseph Blandisi.
Kyle Platzer and Zach Nastasiuk continue to lead Owen Sound in scoring, boasting 66 and 61 points respectively. Defenceman Chris Bigras is also closing in on the 60 point barrier, as he currently sits at 57 on the year. Thursday night's game will be the 7th game of a stretch that will see the Attack play seven of eight games on the road, but after they wrap up what is a four game road swing on Friday night in Sarnia, Owen Sound will be spending a lot of time in the friendly confines of the Bayshore.
The Attack return home to take on the Guelph Storm on Saturday, Feb. 21 and that game will begin a stretch of five straight games at home. Saugeen Golf will present all of the action on Saturday.
Tickets for Saturday's game, and all remaining Attack home games, can be purchased at the DJ's Furniture Attack Box Office, online at www.attackhockey.com, or by calling 519-371-7452.
This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.
KEYS TO VICTORY
After riding the solid play of special teams to victory against the Erie Otters on Saturday, Feb. 14, the Attack will look to do the same against the Colts on Thursday night. But it will be the team's ability to stay out of the penalty box that will aid them the most. Games against Barrie tend to be penalty filled affairs, and head coach Greg Ireland will urge his team to remain level headed after the whistle to avoid giving the Colts' trio of 80-point-scorers the chance to work.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Andrew Mangiapane, C, Barrie Colts
35G, 48A, 54GP
Often overlooked due to the big names on the Colts' roster, Mangiapane has been a big part of Barrie's success in just his 2nd year in the league. The 2nd line center is 8th in league scoring and provides Barrie scoring depth while also an option on a dangerous powerplay.
Thomas Schemitsch, D, Owen Sound Attack
8G, 28A, 52GP
The rangy defenceman has been a bright spot on the blue line for the Attack this year, and is on pace to score more points than teammate Chris Bigras did in his draft year. Bigras, a 2nd round pick by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013, amassed 38 points in 68 games while Schemitsch is just two points shy of that mark with 16 games left to play. An important part of all situations for the Attack, Schemitsch provides solid two way depth and will be key to success against the Colts.
Source - Owen Sound Attack
{tweet}
