SAGINAW, Mich. (Interstat) — The Barrie Colts will visit the Saginaw Spirit in a minor league hockey game Friday at Dow Event Center in Saginaw, Mich. Barrie will be the visiting team and Saginaw the home team. The Colts enter with a 2-12 record, while the Spirit are 6-8.

Barrie has struggled through a heavy stretch of its schedule. In its most recent game, the Colts fell 5-4 in overtime at Owen Sound after getting one goal, one assist and seven shots on goal from Carter Lowe. Luca Testa added one goal, one assist and three shots, and Sebastian Mogull scored once with three shots. Lowe has been Barrie’s most consistent offensive threat of late. He had one assist and three shots against North Bay, two assists and six shots against Owen Sound, and a goal and two shots against Kingston. He also had a goal and an assist against Sarnia. Barrie’s most recent win came against Owen Sound, and the Colts have also dropped several one-goal and overtime decisions during the stretch. Lowe is the Barrie player to watch as the Colts try to generate offense on the road.

Saginaw has shown more offense at times this season but is coming off a 5-2 loss at Soo. Tyler Martyniuk scored once and had three shots in that game, while Dima Zhilkin had one assist, eight shots and two penalty minutes. Jacob Cloutier also scored once with three shots and two penalty minutes. Martyniuk has contributed in several recent games, including an assist and four penalty minutes at Flint, an assist and one shot against Flint, an assist with two shots and seven penalty minutes against Sarnia, and two assists with four penalty minutes against Kitchener. Martyniuk is the Saginaw player to watch as the Spirit return home. Saginaw has scored at least four goals in several recent games, including a 7-4 win against Sarnia and a 9-2 win at Sarnia.

The matchup features a Barrie team trying to end a difficult run and a Saginaw club looking for a stronger home performance. The Colts have been outscored in several recent defeats, but Lowe’s recent shot totals suggest he can create chances. Saginaw will look to Martyniuk and its other forwards to apply pressure at Dow Event Center. Barrie is set to play at Flint next, while Saginaw is scheduled to host Guelph next.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a final score of Saginaw 2, Barrie 1. Interstat’s ELO system gives Barrie a 56 percent probability to win. The over/under for the game is 6.5.