Game Day Preview: Oshawa Generals @ Ottawa 67's, March 18

GAME DAY PREVIEW:  Oshawa Generals @ Ottawa 67’s

Courtesy @misconduct

It’s a big game for both clubs.  The Oshawa Generals roll into town coming off a 4 game winning streak – their latest victim was the Peterborough Petes by a score of 4-3 in a shootout.  Christian Thomas had a big two goal night including the game tying goal.  He also scored the first goal in the shootout ultimately leading to the victory.   Thomas’ two goal game moves him into the OHL leading goal scorer, two ahead of Ottawa 67’s forward, Tyler Toffoli.

The Ottawa 67’s are coming off two disappointing overtime losses with the most recent being against the league’s top team, the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors.  Justin Shugg scored a pair of goals including the overtime winner 34 seconds in to edge the 67’s 3-2.  Sean Monahan continued his hot streak with a goal and an assist in a losing effort.  Tyler Toffoli had two assists which gave him his 100th & 101st points on the season.

Oshawa will face Ottawa for the 6^th and final time in the regular season.  Ottawa leads the season series 3-2; however, all but the first game have been close 1-goal games.  Two of the games came went to the shootout.  Ottawa won both of those shootouts.  The last time these two teams met was Jan 15^th in Oshawa where the Generals skated to a 6-5 victory.  Cody Lindsay had a pair of goals on the night but was outshadowed by rookie Nicklas Jensen who had a goal and 3 assists.

The Generals come into tonight’s game with a game in had a 3 points back on the division leading 67’s.  A win today for the 67’s (in any fashion) clinches the top seed in the East Division and the second top seed in the Eastern Conference.  If the 67’s only obtain 1 point or no points, the Generals have a chance to catch up.

Head-to-head
Ottawa 5 @ Oshawa 6 (Jan 15 2011) Final
Ottawa 4 @ Oshawa 3 (Dec 19 2010) Final SO
Oshawa 3 @ Ottawa 4 (Oct 24 2010) Final SO
Ottawa 4 @ Oshawa 3 (Oct 11 2010) Final
Oshawa 6 @ Ottawa 3 (Oct 1 2010) Final

Ottawa 67’s 

42-19-3-2, 89 points
1^st Eastern Division

2^nd Eastern Conference
HOME:  23-5-3-1

Leading scorers

Tyler Toffoli – 52 goals, 101 points

Shane Prince – 25 goals, 88 points

Ryan Martindale – 34 goals, 81 points

Top performers vs 67’s

Cody Lindsay – 5 goals, 9 points in 5 games

Thomas Nesbitt – 1 goal, 7 points in 5 games

Shane Prince – 2 goals, 5 points in 5 games

Top NHL draft prospects

Shane Prince (35^th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)

Lineup changes
Petr Mrazek, groin, day-to-day (likely to return)
Thomas Nesbitt, knee, week-to-week
Cody Lindsay, jaw, day-to-day
Shane Prince, concussion & whiplash,  week-to-week
Jon Carnevale, concussion, IR
Cosimo Fontana, concussion, IR
Julian Luciani, upper body, day-to-day
Steven Janes, shoulder, day-to-day

Oshawa Generals

38-17-4-6, 86 points

2^nd Eastern Division

4^th Eastern Conference

AWAY:  19-10-2-2

Leading scorers

Christian Thomas – 54 goals, 94 points

Andy Andreoff – 33 goals, 75 points

Boone Jenner – 21 goals, 60 points

Top performers vs 67’s

Christian Tomas – 2 goals, 13 points in 5 games

Lucas Lessio – 5 goals, 9 points in 5 games

Nicklas Jensen – 1 goal, 5 points in 4 games

Top NHL draft prospects

Boone Jenner (18^th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)

Nicklas Jensen (20^th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)

Lucas Lessio (44^th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)

Colin Buellentrop (117^th in CS’ North American Skaters midterm ranking)

Lineup changes

Injuries unknown

Anton Zupancic (suspended)

Alain Berger (suspended)

Emerson Clarke (suspended)