THE GAME DAY GAZETTE

The Oshawa Generals are still hanging on to the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, but by a slim margin of just three points. This weekend the Generals have ample opportunity to extend their lead over the Kingson Frontenacs, with three games in three days hosting the North Bay Battalion on Friday, the Owen Sound Attack on the road on Saturday and the Flint Firebirds on Sunday.

It’s all a tall order on Friday night, taking on the Central Division leading Battalion. Both teams have been able to beat the other this year, but it’s the Battalion with two victories to the Generals’ lone win. North Bay enters Friday night on a our-game winning streak, five points up on the Barrie Colts for the division lead. While they can still catch the Ottawa 67’s, it’s looking like they’re close to securing the conference for themselves.

Both clubs want these two points, one team to get closer to securing their spot in the postseason, and the other to get closer to securing a division title. Regardless, it should be a good one in Oshawa on Friday night, puck drop scheduled for 7:35.

Last Meeting:

It was actually the Generals coming away with the victory in the last meeting, shutting out the Battalion 4-0 back on January 29th. It was Jacob Oster’s second shutout of the season, and the second of back-to-back shutouts as well. A hattrick from Ryan Gagnier was more than enough to vault the Generals to victory. Stuart Rolofs also scored for the Generals.

Players To Watch

Ryder Mcintyre Dom Divincetiis Ryan Gagnier

The last time Ryan Gagnier played against the Battalion, he scored a hattrick and added an assist for a four-point game. Missing his last game as a precaution, Gagnier will be front and centre again this weekend as the Generals search for every possible point. Still leading the way offensively, Gagnier is three goals away from 30 on the season, which would be a first in his OHL career.

Often an unlikely offensive touch, Ryder McIntyre has begun to show why he deserves to be taken seriously in the Generals’ lineup. Scoring again last weekend in Sault Ste. Marie, McIntyre is up to seven on his season, a career-best. McIntyre fills a role similar to that of Gens alumni Hunter Smith, a strong-net front presence that can kick it into high gear to beat someone out for a loose puck. His depth scoring is a necessity if Oshawa wants to stay in the playoff picture.

Named the OHL’s goaltender of the week, DiVincentiis backstopped the Battalion in back-to-back victories last week, starting with a 23-save effort in Thursday’s 5-2 win over the visiting Sudbury Wolves. The win was DiVincentiis’ 31st of the season, pushing him ahead of Jake Smith’s previously established single-season franchise wins record from 2015-16.