The Owen Sound Attack kick off a three in three weekend with a potential playoff opponent when they head to Guelph to take on the Storm on Friday, Mar. 6.
After a 5-1 victory over the Peterborough Petes on Tuesday night that clinched a playoff berth, the Attack now sit just three points back of Guelph with two games in hand for 4th place in the Western Conference.
Friday night's match up pits the 5th place Attack (30-20-2-7, 69 points) against the Storm (34-23-2-2, 72 points) in what is looking to be a preview of the 1st round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Owen Sound and Guelph will meet once more before the regular season ends, with the Attack's penultimate game coming against their Highway 6 rivals. The Attack enter Friday night's game having won seven of their last 10 games while the Storm have won six of their previous 10 games.
The season series has seen the Midwest Division teams play six times already, with the Attack winning twice in regulation, losing twice in regulation, and losing twice in a shootout. The last meeting between the squads was on Feb. 21 and saw a 4-1 victory for the Attack, a win that came in the midst of a six game winning streak for Owen Sound.
Attack captain Zach Nastasiuk may return to the lineup this weekend after missing Tuesday night's game against Peterborough. Nastasiuk, who has a career high 31 goals and 70 points on the season, suffered an upper body injury in a game against the Erie Otters on Saturday, Feb. 28.
Puck drop for Friday's game is set for 7:30 pm and can be watched live on Rogers Local 53 or listened to on 560 CFOS Bear Radio with Fred Wallace.
Owen Sound will return to action at the Bayshore on Saturday, Mar. 7 when they host the Saginaw Spirit at 7:30 pm before wrapping up the weekend with a home game against the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Sunday at 2:00 pm.
Tickets for that game, and all remaining Attack home games - including playoffs, 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
When the Attack dismantled the Peterborough Petes on Tuesday night, they did so on the backs of an impressive special teams performance. Owen Sound went three for three on the power play while allowing just one goal on eight short handed scenarios. While they will try to limit the Guelph's chances on the man advantage on Friday, another big push on the Baywest Nissan Powerplay will serve the Attack well. Their recent string of success has also come thanks to fast starts and that is something Owen Sound will certainly look to continue.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Erik Bradford, C, Owen Sound Attack
26G, 38A, 60GP
The biggest acquisition for the Attack at the trade deadline is paying off in spades. With 29 points in 23 games since coming to Owen Sound, Bradford has spearheaded a surge in play by the Attack's three overagers. While with the Ottawa 67's, Bradford scored only 12 times in 37 games, but in just 23 appearances with the Attack he has bulged the twine 14 times. An all-purpose player, Bradford has become a threat whenever he is on the ice.
Robby Fabbri, C, Guelph Storm
18G, 21A, 23GP
Felled by a high ankle sprain at the World Junior Hockey Championships, Robby Fabbri has just returned to action for Guelph after a lengthy absence. However, his performance didn't seem to take a hit as he added an assist in a victory over Kitchener on Sunday, Mar. 1, a game that marked his first OHL appearance since early December, 2014. Despite the loss of Zac Leslie to season ending shoulder surgery, the Storm are a formidable opponent because of Fabbri's presence.
