In a rarity for the month ahead, the Owen Sound Attack have a home game tonight when they host the Kitchener Rangers in an Ontario Hockey League divisional matchup at the Harry Lumley-Bayshore Community Centre.
This will be the 4th meeting on the year between the Attack & Rangers with each team accumulating 4 points through the first half of their annual 6 game season series.
For the Attack, the opportunity is there, once again, to take advantage of an opponent.
Kitchener is missing their coach, actually two of their coaches are away.
Their best goaltender is at the World Junior Championship, so too is their best offensive defender and team captain, plus two top forwards.
Now, it’s understood, that Owen Sound is missing bodies too, but the impact of the departures when matched one against the other, would seem to favour Owen Sound.
And in truth, Owen Sound needs to take advantage of this opportunity, sitting 10 points up on Kitchener heading to this evening’s game.
A win tonight by the home side, wouldn’t eliminate the Rangers, but for the moment, would put them very much in the rearview mirror.
Having said that, Owen Sound is just one game removed from a game against the Oshawa Generals who had 10 scratches, mostly key guys, and the Attack needed to dangle in the last 6 minutes to win.
Game time for the Attack & Rangers tonight is 7 pm
I’m Fred Wallace