ST. CATHARINES (Interstat) — The North Bay Battalion will visit the Niagara IceDogs in minor league hockey action Friday at Meridian Centre, with both teams looking to build momentum in the early portion of the season.

North Bay enters with a 6-8 record and is coming off a 7-4 win at Barrie. North Bay has won its past two games, scoring 12 goals in the process. Evgeny Dubrovtsev has been North Bay’s most consistent offensive threat of late, recording six goals and two assists over his past eight games. He also had a two-goal, six-shot performance in North Bay’s most recent victory. Parker Vaughan and Cam Warren provided support in that win, with Vaughan contributing a goal and two assists and Warren adding three assists. The Battalion will need that secondary scoring to continue against a Niagara team that has been productive at home.

Niagara is 7-6 and dropped a 5-2 decision at Erie in its most recent game. The IceDogs have scored at least four goals in four of their past six games but have also allowed five or more in three of those contests. Ryerson Edgar remains a focal point for Niagara, with six goals and five assists over his past seven games. He put eight shots on goal in the loss at Erie and has been active on special teams and in physical play. Layne Gallacher and Finn Merrill also contributed in the most recent outing, with Gallacher recording an assist and five shots and Merrill scoring a goal. The IceDogs will look to use home ice and their recent edge in the head-to-head series. Niagara won the most recent meeting 5-4 at North Bay. The teams will meet for the second time this season.

The matchup features two offenses capable of generating chances and two players to watch in Dubrovtsev and Edgar. North Bay will aim to start quickly and avoid extended time in its defensive zone, while Niagara will try to dictate pace with an aggressive forecheck. North Bay’s recent form includes the win at Barrie and a 5-3 victory at Sudbury, while Niagara has had mixed results over its recent stretch. The IceDogs’ home crowd at Meridian Centre could play a role as Niagara tries to slow Dubrovtsev and limit North Bay’s transition chances. North Bay will counter by leaning on its recent scoring depth and its ability to create shots from the slot.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-2 Niagara victory, while Interstat’s ELO system gives North Bay a 58.8 percent chance to win. The over/under for the game is 6.5.