What: Erie Otters (17-16-1-1) at Plymouth Whalers (17-14-1-1)

When: Tuesday, 2 p.m.

Where: Compuware Arena – Plymouth, Mich.

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (25 goals, 29 assists, 54 points), RW Shawn Szydlowski (17-15-32), RW Anthony Luciani (13-17-30), G Ramis Sadikov (17-12-1-1 record, 2.89 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, 2 shutouts), C Phil Varone (12-14-26)

Plymouth – G Scott Wedgewood (16-9-0-1, 2.51, .917, 2 SO), RW Stefan Noesen (15-21-36), RW Robbie Czarnik (13-19-22), LW Tyler Brown (11-16-27), C Alex Aleardi (14-12-26)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters and Whalers begin the second half in a virtual tie for fifth place in the Western Conference. Both teams have 36 points and 17 wins (the first tiebreaker), but the Whalers have a better winning percentage (.545 to .514). … The Otters begin the second half without rookie LW Chris Marchese (3-7-10) and rookie D Adam Pelech (1-5-6, plus-1), who are representing Ontario in the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The tournament runs from Wednesday through Dec. 28 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. … Sadikov should continue his franchise-record streak of 25 straight starts. … McKegg begins the half fourth in the OHL scoring race and tied for third in goals. … Luciani has 10 goals and 25 points in 16 games since returning from a broken wrist last month. … Szydlowski needs six goals and 16 points to surpass his single-season career high in goals (23 in 2008-09) and points (48 in 2009-10). … The Otters won the first meeting between the teams – 4-1 in Erie Oct. 27. That remains the Otters’ only win against the West Division (1-4-0-1). … Varone made his Otters’ debut that same night. The team has a 14-7-0-1 record since he was acquired from London Oct. 26. … C Mike Cazzola (9-16-25), who has missed two months with a broken wrist, is scheduled for X-rays today. He could rejoin the lineup next week.

Plymouth – The Whalers ended the first half with a four-game losing streak. … They won both meetings with the Otters in Plymouth last season. … Wedgewood ranks among the league’s top five in wins, goals-against average, save percentage and shutouts. … Noesen has shattered his 33-game totals from his rookie season last year (3 goals, 8 points). … The Whalers rank near the bottom of the league on the power play (17 percent), but they are in the top 10 on the penalty kill (80.5). … They are the second-most penalized team (671 minutes). … D Beau Schmitz (3-16-19) ranks among the top 20 defensemen in scoring.

Up next: at Saginaw (Wednesday, 7:11 p.m.), at Windsor (Friday, 2:05 p.m.)

– Victor Fernandes

What: Plymouth Whalers (5-5-1-1) at Erie Otters (3-9-1-0)

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Tullio Arena

On the air: WFNN-AM/1330, www.ottershockey.com (live stream)

Players to watch

Erie – C Greg McKegg (8 goals, 14 assists, 22 points), C Mike Cazzola (6-12-18), RW Shawn Szydlowski (6-7-13), LW David Broll (2-5-7), D Tyler Hostetter (3-6-9)

Plymouth – C Alex Aleardi (8-7-15), RW Stefan Noesen (7-7-14), LW Tyler Brown (5-9-14), RW Robbie Czarnik (4-8-12), D Beau Schmitz (1-7-8, plus-6)

Fast facts

Erie – The Otters have lost seven straight games, their longest losing streak since setting the franchise record of 16 consecutive defeats in the 2007-08 season. … They look to rebound from a 1-3 start at home. … D Brett Cook (concussion) rejoined the lineup last weekend. … RW Anthony Luciani, who has a cast on his injured wrist, isn’t expected to play this week. Coach Robbie Ftorek said Tuesday the length of the healing process will determine the timetable for his return. … Ftorek said Ds David Shields (back) and Mitch Gaulton (hand) and Fs Brett Appio (leg) and Connor Crisp (concussion) haven’t been “ruled into” the lineup for tonight’s game. … McKegg ranks second to Owen Sound LW Garrett Wilson (16-8-24) in the OHL’s scoring race. … McKegg also stands among the top 15 in goals as well as second in assists and first with three short-handed goals. … Cazzola is tied for seventh in scoring. … Szydlowski has six goals in the past nine games. … Broll has one point in his past eight games. … The Otters have allowed 36 goals during their skid. They rank in the bottom three with 56 goals against. … G Ramis Sadikov has five losses and a no-decision in his last six starts (4.63 goals-against average, .852 save percentage). … Through the club’s Hockey for the Hungry event, fans can bring a non-perishable food item to a local State Farm agent or the Otters’ front office to receive a voucher for a $2 ticket to tonight’s game. … Buck Night returns tonight with $1 Smith’s hot dogs, Coke products, beer and popcorn.

Plymouth – C Tyler Seguin, the No. 2 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, remains with the Boston Bruins. The NHL club has until before his 10^th game, set for Nov. 5 against the Washington Capitals, to return Seguin (48-58-106) to the Whalers without starting the first year of a three-year, entry-level contract. … Noesen already has surpassed his 33-game totals (3-5-8) as a rookie last season. … G Scott Wedgewood has enjoyed a strong start to the season (5-4-0-1 record, 2.91 GAA, .904 save pct., 1 shutout). … The Whalers have .500 records at home (3-3-0-0) and on the road (2-2-1-1). … D Max Iafrate, the Whalers’ 2010 OHL first-round pick and son of former NHL defenseman Al Iafrate, has no points, a minus-1 rating and 25 penalty minutes in his first 10 games.

Up next: vs. Windsor (Friday, 7 p.m.), vs. Oshawa (Saturday, 7 p.m.)

- Victor Fernandes