Key divisional matchups highlight busy weekend schedule

After a smattering of games spread out over the last few weeks, the Maritime Hockey league schedule is loaded up for a big weekend.

Things get started on Friday with four games. The Yarmouth Mariners (21-4-0-1) enter the week nine points clear of everyone in the league and host the third-place Truro Bearcats (15-7-1-1). Yarmouth has won all three meetings between the two sides this season, while the Bearcats enter the game on a three-game winning streak. The South Shore Lumberjacks (11-8-2-0) are riding a five-game winning streak and hit the road in New Brunswick this weekend, starting things off in Campbellton (13-7-1-2). The Tigers are five points back of Summerside (17-4-0-0) for first place in the Eastlink North and beat the Lumberjacks 5-4 in overtime in Bridgewater way back on September 15th. The Blizzard (11-8-3-0) travel to Grand Falls to play the Rapids (6-13-2-1) for the fifth time this season. Edmundston has won the last three meetings.

Finally, Pictou County (6-13-3-2) travel to Berwick to face the Wildcats (4-16-3-0). Valley is looking to bounce back from a pair of big losses last week, 8-1 to South Shore and 6-1 to Truro. The Crushers beat Amherst (16-6-1-1) by a score of 6-0 last weekend, and are seven points behind the Lumberjacks for the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastlink South. This is the MHL Game of the Week and is free to watch on HockeyTV.

There are five games on Saturday, kicking off with Amherst home to the Mariners. The Ramblers have had Yarmouth’s number so far, with 6-1 wins in both rinks, but could also use a win to create a bit of separation between themselves and the Bearcats who are just two points back. Speaking of Truro, they host the Crushers. Pictou County picked up a 4-1 win in New Glasgow in their last meeting on November 22nd. Elsewhere, Edmundston travels to St. Stephen (7-13-2-0). The Aces have posted wins of 2-1 and 3-0 over the Blizzard this season. The Summerside Western Capitals have just one game this week as they host Campbellton at Credit Union Place. Their first matchup this season was an outstanding game, with the Tigers falling 2-1 in overtime on November 10th. Wrapping up the night’s schedule is Miramichi (11-11-2-0) home to South Shore. The Timberwolves have dropped three straight games, but enter the weekend just one points behind Edmundston for third-place, and are eight points up on the Aces for the final playoff spot in the Eastlink North.

Then we come to Sunday, which features two afternoon tilts. The Ramblers stay on home ice as the Valley Wildcats roll into town. Amherst has won all three meetings this season, but two have been decided by just one goal. Then the Aces play their second home game of the weekend as they host Miramichi. St. Stephen has posted wins of 2-1 in overtime and 5-2 over the Timberwolves, both at the Garcelon Civic Centre.