The Capitals take a seven-game winning streak into Friday night’s road game against the Campbellton Tigers, and then return home to host the Metro Shipbuilders in a rare Saturday night game at Eastlink Arena that will get underway at 7 p.m. The Caps do not play on Sunday, which is their traditional day to host games.
“We have to prepare every game the same way, and have to come out hard,” said Capitals forward Mitch Maynard. “They (Tigers and Shipbuilders) are playing hard every night, and any team can beat any team on any night.”
Guaranteed 50/50 pool
The Capitals have announced there will be a guaranteed 50/50 pool of $5,000 for Saturday night’s game.
The Roger Meek Division-leading Capitals go into weekend action atop the overall standings in the 11-team MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) at 26-6-2-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses).
The Tigers (11-22-1-1) and Dartmouth-based Shipbuilders (4-31-0-1) sit last in the Meek and Eastlink Divisions. However, the Tigers have given the Caps all they could handle in the first four meetings – all in Summerside. Although the Caps have won all four of those games, one decision required overtime and another was not decided until a shootout. The other scores were 4-1 and 4-2.
“We have to keep continuing to get better every game, and these games are real important to do that.” - Capitals head coach Billy McGuigan
“Campbellton has been a real pest for us this year,” said McGuigan. “They have all been close games, and they work so hard.”
Saturday will mark the final meeting of the regular season between the Caps and Shipbuilders. The Caps have won the first three meetings by 5-0, 7-2 and 7-3 scores.
However, with the Caps in a race with Yarmouth and Truro for first overall and home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs, there are an important two points at stake.
“We have to keep continuing to get better every game, and these games are real important to do that,” added the head coach.
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