SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals will close out a busy week on Saturday
The Caps will host the Miramichi Timberwolves in a game with huge playoff implications in the Eastlink North Division of the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League). Puck drop at Eastlink Arena is set for 7 p.m.
The Caps, the fourth-ranked team in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings, went into Friday’s play with a comfortable 10-point lead atop the division at 29-5-1 (won-lost-overtime losses), but the Timberwolves are in a neck-and-neck battle with the St. Stephen Aces for the fourth and final playoff spot.
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Miramichi defeated the Aces 5-3 on Thursday night to move into fourth, one point ahead of St. Stephen (14-22-3).
The Caps, who took a 10-0-1 record in their last 11 games into Friday night’s road game against the Campbellton Tigers (22-10-5) 10-0-1, began a stretch of three games in four days with a 7-3 home-ice win over the Pictou County Crushers on Wednesday.
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The Capitals, who have scored a league-high 177 goals while allowing a league-low 81 goals, control their own fate in the race for first-place overall in the 12-team league. Summerside, which also holds two games-in-hand, went into Friday’s play with a three-point advantage over the Eastlink South Division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (26-7-4).
Third-year forward and assistant captain Brodie MacArthur sits atop the league scoring race with 74 points – 32 goals and 42 assists. MacArthur, who has also contributed a team-leading eight game-winning goals, holds a 10-point lead over teammate TJ Shea (26-38), who returned to the Capitals’ lineup on Wednesday after missing a couple of games with an injury.
Fans are also reminded that the Caps will host the Grand Falls Rapids (10-20-5) in a make-up game at Eastlink Arena on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Grand Falls went into Friday’s play seven points out of a playoff spot in the North Division, but has played three fewer games than Miramichi and four fewer than St. Stephen.
