The Niagara IceDogs saw their six game winning streak come to an end this past weekend, but still managed to win two of three games, making them an impressive 5-1 over the past two weekends in a pair of tough three in threes. Overall, they are 11-2 in their last 13 games and playing as well as any team in the Ontario Hockey League.

With a short bench last week, due to a combination of injuries and a suspension, the IceDogs played some gutsy hockey and showed great character in less than ideal circumstances. Mitch Bennett, Brock Beukeboom, Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Strome and Joel Wigle all missed all three games, forcing the IceDogs to play short two players in Erie and with Brad Col called up from the St. Catharines Falcons on Saturday and Sunday.

The IceDogs will once again be missing some of these players this weekend, but will need to continue their strong team play in order to stay hot.

Thursday, January 26th vs. Belleville Bulls, 7:00pm The Niagara IceDogs open their weekend by playing host to the visiting Belleville Bulls Thursday night at the Gatorade Garden City Complex. Belleville has struggled recently losing five straight and nine of their last ten games. However, that record is not completely telling of the situation in Belleville. The Bulls have been without both OHL goals against average and save percentage leader Malcolm Subban and former IceDog John Chartrand in goal recently and have had to rely on 16-year-old rookie call up Charlie Graham to carry the load. While Graham got off to a great start in a big win over Brampton, he has had his struggles lately, as have the rest of the Bulls.

Belleville could get a huge boost however with reports that Malcolm Subban could be making his return to lineup this weekend. If he does, Belleville instantly becomes a much better team, as Subban has been nothing short of exceptional for the Bulls, posting a 13-6 record with a 1.93 G.A.A. and a .938 save percentage so far this season.

Regardless of Subban’s presence, the IceDogs will have to play a strong game to beat a Belleville team hungry for a win. After a strong start to the season, they currently sit one point back of the Oshawa Generals for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and will be anxious to return to the top eight.

Leading the charge offensively for Belleville are Brendan Gaunce and Austen Brassard. Those two were recently joined by a pair of familiar faces for IceDogs fans in Jordan Mayer and Joseph Cramarossa who were acquired from Mississauga at the trade deadline. With these four making up just a small portion of a talented Belleville squad, the IceDogs cannot afford to take the Bulls lightly.

Friday, January 27 @ Guelph Storm 7:30pm After hosting Belleville Thursday night in their lone home game of the weekend, Niagara hits the road and heads to Guelph to take on the Storm on Friday night.

Guelph, like Belleville, is in a hard fought battle for one of the last playoff spots in their conference, currently sitting eighth in the Western Conference, only one point up on Sault Ste. Marie for the last playoff spot. Guelph however has only played 43 games and currently holds three or four games in hand on many of the teams around them in the standings, meaning they could quickly shoot up the standings with a hot streak.

Guelph beat Niagara 4-1 in their only other meeting this season, in Niagara on New Year’s Eve. Garret Sparks, a Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick, stole the show that night stopping 28 of 29 shots in the victory. Sparks has been a big part of Guelph’s success, sporting a 16-13-1-2 record with a 2.86 G.A.A. and .914 save percentage so far this season.

Offensively, Guelph features a balanced attack with six players with 30 or more points so far this season. In addition, rookie and Thorold native Hunter Garlent has been excellent picking up eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 35 games for the Storm.

Sunday, January 29th @ Brampton Battalion 2:00pm The IceDogs close out their weekend by heading to Brampton to take on the division leading Battalion in a game that will be key in the Central Division standings. The IceDogs are only two points back of Brampton for the division lead and currently have a game in hand.

The IceDogs and Battalion are 2-2 in their head to head matchups this season with each team having won both their games at home. The IceDogs will look to put an end to that streak and pick up their first win in Brampton so far this season.

To do so, Niagara will need to solve Brampton’s strong goaltending tandem, which currently leads the league in goals against. Matej Machovsky has been especially strong for Brampton with a 18-7-0-4 record and .915 save percentage to go along with the second best G.A.A. in the OHL at 2.07.

Up front, Brampton is led by captain and Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Sam Carrick who leads the team with 44 points in 46 games. Also leading the charge for Brampton as of late is overage forward Ian Watters who has six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 12 games since returning to the lineup in late December. Patrik Machac has also been a thorn in the IceDogs side picking up four of his ten goals on the season in the four games against Niagara.

While the IceDogs have been red hot over the past few weeks, each weekend is essential as the top of the Eastern Conference remains extremely tight. The IceDogs will have to be mindful of this as each weekend remains key in staying in the race for the division and conference leads.