BRAMPTON, Ont. - When the Ontario Hockey League season started in September, few would have predicted that the Brampton Battalion’s visit to the Ottawa 67’s at 7:30 p.m. Friday would pit division leaders tied atop the Eastern Conference, but that’s precisely the case.

The Battalion, which has won its last four games, boasts a won-lost-extended record of 18-10-4 for 40 points in the Central Division, while Ottawa is 18-9-4 for 40 points in the East Division.

“We just need to try to stick to the style of game that we know how to play,” Battalion coach Stan Butler said Thursday. “Hopefully everyone continues to do that and we can continue to have success.”

Added Butler: “The biggest thing tomorrow night is to go in and continue to play a better game than the game before. It’s still early in the season, and we still haven’t hit the halfway point. Our focus is to play one game at a time and keep getting better each and every game.”

The Battalion has won its two previous meetings with the 67’s, a 4-1 victory at Ottawa on Oct. 14 and a 3-2 home-ice win via shootout Nov. 13. That game, which saw Brett Mackie score in the 13th round of the penalty-shot competition, featured the longest shootout in Battalion history.

“They have a very talented offensive team with Tyler Toffoli,” Butler said of the 67’s. “They’re going to be a motivated team. I think Tyler will be extremely motivated after not making the Canadian national junior team, and they’re going to come out and bring a good game with him tomorrow.”

Toffoli is second in OHL scoring with 27 goals and 23 assists for 50 points in 28 games, second to the 66 points of Tanner Pearson of the Barrie Colts, who was selected to the Canadian team that will compete in the World Junior Championship tournament at Edmonton and Calgary starting Dec. 26.

The Battalion, which started its winning streak with a 3-0 blanking Dec. 4 of the visiting Niagara IceDogs, forged the run with three wins last weekend. The Troops defeated the host Kingston Frontenacs 7-4 Friday night before winning 4-1 Saturday night at Barrie and trumping Kingston 5-2 at home Sunday.

Philip Lane, a key contributor to the offence this season, was recognized as the OHL’s Player of the Week for the period ended Sunday.

“It’s just a credit to Philip,” said Butler. “He had an extremely good weekend. He worked extremely hard and he’s had a good season so far.”

Lane, who scored one goal and earned six assists for seven points in three games to extend a points streak to four games, leads the Troops in scoring with 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points in 32 games.

“We’re a team that doesn’t normally have players recognized for what they do, so from that perspective it’s nice to see one of our guys getting the credit he deserves,” noted Butler. “He’s important to our team, and not just offensively. He’s an extremely hard worker, a big, strong physical player, and plays at both ends of the rink.”

After the Ottawa visit, the Battalion plays its last game before the Christmas break by hosting the Sarnia Sting at 2 p.m. Sunday.

“We have two more games left here and we want to finish strong,” said Butler. “The two teams we’re playing are good hockey teams, and we need to be aware of that.”

Said Butler: “The biggest thing is to remind the kids these points are all important. You can’t leave any points on the table, because you’ve got to make sure you play right to the end. Points are points, and the reality is you need to continue to go all the way through to the end.”

The Battalion was expected to be without three forwards. Patrik Machac is sidelined with a shoulder injury incurred in a 2-1 loss via shootout to the visiting Kitchener Rangers on Dec. 1. Right winger Matt MacLeod suffered a concussion in a 7-2 road loss Nov. 18 to the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, while left winger Ian Watters is recovering from surgery on severed tendons in his right wrist.

The game at Ottawa can be seen live in Brampton on Rogers Cable 10 and in Bolton, Caledon and Orangeville on Rogers Cable 63.