OHL Owen Sound Attack

Attack Riding High into Weekend

February 26, 2015 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Owen Sound Attack News Release


The Owen Sound Attack will be riding a five game win streak into a pair of games against the Erie Otters this weekend. After dispatching the Barrie Colts for the 2nd time in less than a week, the Attack are primed to host the Midwest Division leading Otters for the last time this season when the teams square off on Friday, Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28.

The Attack and Otters have met for times previously this year, with Erie having won three of the four games. Owen Sound was victorious in the last match up between the pair, a 5-4 overtime win on Valentine's Day.

With both teams coming into the game on winning streaks - Erie has won their last two games and is coming off of an 8-4 victory over the Guelph Storm - the weekend will surely involve two hotly contested games.

For the Attack, the season is dwindling down and the team is in a fight for 4th place in the conference as they trail the Storm by just 5 points with three games in hand. Owen Sound enters the weekend with a 28-19-2-7 record for 65 points.

For the Otters, their remaining 11 games on the year represent a chance to catch the the Western Conference leading Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. After Wednesday's win over Guelph, the Otters boast a record of 40-13-2-2 for 84 points.

The Attack will be led into the weekend by the hot play of a number of key players.

Netminder Jack Flinn has won his seven of his last night games, including four straight. In his winning streak he has posted a 1.00 goals against average and a .964 save percentage. Overage forward Holden Cook has also come on as of late, scoring four goals in the team's last three games while captain Zach Nastasiuk is riding a seven game point streak that has seen him amass two goals and seven assists in the stretch.

The Erie Otters will be led offensively by the dynamic Connor McDavid.

Despite only playing in 37 games this year, McDavid has totalled 98 points, six of which came in the Otters' win over Guelph on Wednesday night. McDavid now has 36 goals and 62 assists on the year and entering the weekend he is just 12 points back of London's Mitchell Marner for the OHL lead.

Friday's game is Cobble Beach Golf night at the Bayshore, while Saturday's contest is the 2nd annual Bears In Blue fundraiser for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Both games begin at 7:30 pm and tickets are limited to standing room only.

Tickets can be purchased at the DJ's Furniture Attack Box Office.

This season of Attack Hockey is brought to you by Caframo.

KEYS TO VICTORY

The Erie Otters are undoubtedly an offensive powerhouse, but the Attack have proven that they can shut those high powered offensive teams. For the Attack to win this weekend, they will need to come out quickly and limit the Otters' time in the offensive zone. Owen Sound will also have to stay as disciplined as possible in order to keep the league's number one power play off of the scoresheet.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Ethan Szypula, C, Owen Sound Attack

11G, 17A, 47GP

The draft eligible forward is coming on as of late, having scored twice and added three assists in his last three games. He is quietly putting together a solid month of February with eight points in 10 games and has developed good chemistry with Justin Brack and Jacob Busch. Ranked 96th in the Central Scouting Services Midterm Rankings, Szypula is looking to make a late season push to move up the list.

Connor McDavid, C, Erie Otters

36G, 62A, 37GP

The unanimous projection to go number one overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft is scoring at a rate of 2.56 points per game. Just shy of Sidney Crosby's 2.71 ppg pace in his draft year, it isn't unreasonable to think McDavid would have blown that out of the water had he not injured his hand in a fight in early November. Since returning to action, McDavid has torched the league and hasn't been held off of the scoresheet since Nov. 6, 2014.

Check out the Owen Sound Attack Statistics



Ontario Hockey League Stories from February 26, 2015


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