* Facing old friends: Otters defenseman Chris Breen faced Saginaw, his former team, on Friday night, less than three weeks after the Oct. 7 trade involving former Otters forward Jordan Skellett.
“I’m kind of nervous,” he said before the game. “I played with some of these guys for three years.”
But at game time, he said, “I’ll look at it as another game. I want to do what I can to help the team win.”

* Speaking of Breen: The bright pink hair Breen unveiled on Wednesday at Beauti Works salon lightened considerably by Friday. Although the dye was permanent, Breen said he believed it washed out in the shower. “I don’t like it,” he said.

* No suspension for Torquato: Otters captain Zack Torquato missed the final two periods of a 5-1 win against Niagara on Thursday after receiving a game misconduct. But he won't miss any more time. OHL officials didn't suspend Torquato for the major checking from behind penalty at the end of the first period.

* Gazdic out: Veteran winger Luke Gazdic missed his second straight game on Friday. He declined to disclose the injury, but Gazdic had an ankle problem earlier in the season.
* Welcome relief: When rookie center Mike Cazzola scored his first OHL goal on Thursday at Niagara, “a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Cazzola said Friday. He felt pressure because of a lack of production.
“It feels good to produce,” he said.

* Game scratches: The Otters scratched defenseman Mitch Gaulton (left elbow) and Robyn Sertic (undisclosed injury) and left wings Gazdic, Michael Liambas (hip flexor) and Matthew Paton (appendectomy). … Saginaw scratched defensemen Cody Sol and T.J. Brodie and forwards Kyle Tront, Daniel Pachis, Mitch Fillman and Jason McDonough.

* Around the rink: Paton said he hopes to make his season debut in the next two weeks. … Dean Pepicello will return as the Otters’ full-time public-address announcer for Saturday night’s game against Kitchener, he said Friday. He hasn’t served in that role since the 2006-07 season.

– Victor Fernandes