SUMMERSIDE – The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals and Edmundston Blizzard are about to write another chapter in the playoff rivalry between the two MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) franchises.
The two teams will open the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division final series with back-to-back games in Edmundston, N.B., on Saturday and Sunday nights. The teams return to Summerside for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
“I think it’s going to be high intensity, I think it’s going to be physical and I think it’s going to be a real good series,” predicted Caps head coach Billy McGuigan. “They obviously built a new rink up in Edmundston and there’s a lot of hype and excitement around their program, and we have the best fans in the league here in Summerside. They get behind our team just as well.
“It’s going to be a sold-out rink up in Edmundston and a lot of emotions for both teams. We are going to be up against the fans, up against a great hockey club and it’s going to be fun.”
Click here for story on Summerside-Edmundston series starting Saturday:
Click here for Joe MacIntyre's Hot Corner column discussing Summerside-Edmundston series:
Although this is the Blizzard’s first season in Edmundston, the franchise, which was previously known as the Moncton Beavers and Dieppe Commandos, has had some classic playoff battles with the Caps, dating back to Summerside’s five-game series win in 2001. The Caps and Beavers met in a dramatic seven-game division final in 2007, which attracted sold-out crowds to the recently-opened Credit Union Place, and the teams exchanged emotional six-game series wins in 2016 and 2017. The Commandos posted a series-clinching overtime win in 2016, and the Caps were victorious in 2017.
“It’s always good to have good rivalries,” said Blizzard head coach Ryan Salvis. “I feel we match up well, and have had some good games with Summerside. This is a rivalry we want to pick up where it left off in Dieppe.”
Click here for story on Game 5 between Caps and Campbellton:
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Round 1
In Round 1, the Caps won four straight games to defeat the Campbellton Tigers 4-1 while the Blizzard swept the Miramichi Timberwolves. Although the Caps, who finished the regular season 33-16-1-0 (won-lost-overtime losses-shootout losses), were favoured against Campbellton, McGuigan says that isn’t the case against the Blizzard (36-10-4-0).
Click here for story on Game 3 of Caps and Campbellton series:
Click here for story on Game 2 of Caps and Campbellton series:
“We are coming in as kind of the underdogs, playing the No. 1 team,” said McGuigan. “I like our speed, I like our back end, I like our goaltending and there’s a lot to like about our hockey club right now.
“We have big engines, we never give up. Edmundston finished first overall, and we were behind them in our division. You have to play a seven-game series, and win four games.”
Salvis is not surprised the Caps and Blizzard are meeting.
“It’s obviously something we’ve expected,” said Salvis. “I’ve kind of said it for the past month I think the winner of our series has a good chance to get that championship.
“It’s going to be a great test for us. It’s two well-rested teams. Our team is rested, and very healthy right now. We are looking forward to the challenge.”
Click here for story on Game 1 of Caps and Campbellton series:
Click here for preview of Caps and Campbellton series:
Although the Blizzard won four of six regular-season meetings, the Caps’ confidence is bolstered by three one-goal losses with short-staffed lineups in Edmundston, and solid 4-0 and 5-1 wins on home ice in the final two head-to-head clashes.
“It’s the first time this season they will see our full lineup,” said McGuigan. “We are not going to lay down, that’s for sure. We know we are up against the best team in the league and they are supposed to win, but that’s why you play the series.”
Interesting matchup
One interesting matchup will be offences versus defences. Both teams have proven they can score while keeping the puck out of their own net. The Caps, led by TJ Shea’s league-leading 105 points, led the MHL with 213 regular-season goals while the Blizzard allowed 137 – tied for third fewest. Edmundston scored 180 goals while the Caps were also stingy defensively, allowing 142. The Caps’ Brodie MacArthur, who was second in league scoring with 89 points, enters the series on a 41-game point streak.
“As a coach I always take pride in defensive numbers,” said Salvis. “Everyone really seems to take pride in their effort away from the puck. “We are just going to keep doing the same thing as taking care of the D zone, playing tough in the D zone and making Summerside work for chances. If we are making them at least work for their opportunities and play tough, strong playoff hockey, that is what we want.”
Click here for story on graduating Western Capitals goaltender Alex Bishop's plans for next season:
Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals forward Kallum Muirhead, right, and the Edmundston Blizzard’s Patrick Pellerin chat as they cross the ice after serving minor penalties during MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) action at Eastlink Arena on Feb. 8. The two teams will open the Eastlink North Division championship series with games in Edmundston, N.B., on Saturday and Sunday. Games 3 and 4 are back in Summerside on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Edmundston’s last visit to Summerside on Feb. 8 featured one of the most physical Caps’ games in Summerside in a long time. Both coaches expect that to continue.
“They like to use their physicality, and we don’t shy away from it,” said McGuigan. “We don’t initiate it as we are a team that plays on its skill, but they seem to be a team that likes to muck it up, get in those dirty areas and play a more physical style. I assume that’s their game plan against us. We will take each game as it comes.”
Salvis added: “We want to use our speed and be physical. We know that Summerside has a lot of skill in that dressing room, so one thing we are going to need to do is play tough, play strong, be physical and that’s just part of playoff hockey.”
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How They Match Up
How Western Capitals matchup with Edmundston Blizzard:
Regular-Season Records
Blizzard: 36-10-4-0 – 76 points.
Caps: 33-16-1-0 – 67 points.
Playoff Leaders
Points Leaders
Blizzard: Logan Johnston and Alexandre Jacob, tied with 7.
Caps: TJ Shea and Brodie MacArthur, tied with 7.
Goals
Blizzard: Logan Johnston, 4.
Caps: TJ Shea and Jordan Spence, tied with 3.
Assists
Blizzard: Alexandre Jacob, 4.
Caps: Brodie MacArthur, 7.
Power-Play Goals
Blizzard: Logan Johnston and Alexandre Bernier, tied with 1.
Caps: TJ Shea and Jordan Spence, tied with 2.
Short-Handed Goals
Blizzard: None.
Caps: Chris Chaddock, 2.
Goaltending
Blizzard: Myles Hektor, 4-0, 0 shutouts, 2.50 goals-against average, .920 save percentage.
Caps: Alex Bishop, 4-0, 1 shutout, 1.06 goals-against average, .970 save percentage.
Schedule
Schedule for best-of-sevenWes tern Caps-Blizzard series:
Game 1
Saturday, March 31
7:30 p.m. – Capitals at Blizzard.
Game 2
Sunday, April 1
7:30 p.m. – Capitals at Blizzard.
Game 3
Tuesday, April 3
7 p.m. – Blizzard at Capitals.
Game 4
Wednesday, April 4
7 p.m. – Blizzard at Capitals.
Game 5, if necessary
Saturday, April 7
7:30 p.m. – Capitals at Blizzard.
Game 6, if necessary
Monday, April 9
7 p.m. – Blizzard at Capitals.
Wednesday, April 11
Game 7, if necessary
7:30 p.m. – Capitals at Blizzard.
Head to Head
Regular-season meetings between Caps and Blizzard:
Oct. 15
Blizzard 7 at Caps 4.
Oct. 28
Caps 2 at Blizzard 3.
Oct. 29
Caps 5 at Blizzard 6.
Dec. 15
Caps 3 at Blizzard 4.
Jan. 25
Blizzard 0 at Caps 4.
Feb. 8
Blizzard 1 at Caps 5.
