THE WEEK AHEAD

AT SAULT STE. MARIE

Friday, 7:07 p.m.

The storyline: The CHL’s No. 1 ranked Greyhounds have lost two straight, including a 5-2 decision to the Bulldogs Sunday.

Player to watch: Matt Villalta has the league’s best goals-against average and will be looking to rebound after uncharacteristically shaky outing in Hamilton last weekend.

Neat stat: The Greyhounds have earned 51 of a possible 54 points at home this season and haven’t lost at the Essar Centre since Oct. 15.

Local connection: Associate coach Joe Cirella was born in Hamilton and raised in Stoney Creek. AT SUDBURY

Saturday, 7 p.m.

The storyline: The league’s last place Wolves have lost two straight going into their game against Oshawa Friday and are 2-8 in their last 10.

Player to watch: Kirill Nizhnikov has nearly doubled his production since Barrie dealt him to Sudbury in early December.

Neat stat: The Wolves are 0-26 when trailing after two periods, which makes them one of just two teams (Sarnia, strangely, is the other) to have failed to pull off a late game comeback this campaign.

Local connection: Evan Krassey and Cole Candella are former Bulldogs. OWEN SOUND

Monday, 2 p.m., FirstOntario Centre

The storyline: The Attack goes into the weekend hot with wins in all but one of its last eight games. Player to watch: Ethan Szypula scored six of his 13 goals this season in his past four outings. Neat stat: Owen Sound is tops in the OHL in both shots for (37.98 per game) and shots against (27.4).

Local connection: Jackson Doherty is from Ancaster, Marino Moro is from Mount Hope and Trenton Bourque is from Burlington.