Two weeks are all that remain in the 2019-20 regular season. With Edmundston (31-9-1-7) clinching second-place in the Eastlink North, Fredericton (26-18-3-1) and Campbellton (25-16-3-2) continue to battle for third-place. The Red Wings currently have a one-point lead and hold the first tie-breaker, which is regulation plus overtime wins. The Tigers do have two games in hand.
On the Brodie MacArthur watch, the Summerside (39-6-1-2) forward had a goal and assist in a shootout win over Edmundston and then a goal against Grand Falls (15-28-3-3) to tie the MHL’s all-time career scoring record, held by Duane Saulnier at 352 points. MacArthur’s first crack at setting the new record will happen Thursday as Summerside hosts the Rapids.
Just when you think things are becoming a little clearer in the Eastlink South, a new twist is introduced. Yarmouth (27-15-3-2) were the presumed front-runners, but dropping their last four games has opened the door a little. The Mariners now have just a five-point lead over Pictou County (26-18-2-0), with Amherst (26-20-1-0) and Truro (23-17-3-4) six points back. A tough week for South Shore (22-20-3-1) now has them on the outside looking in, five points back of the Ramblers and Bearcats. With a slew of division games left, and finishing the year with four straight at home, the Lumberjacks aren’t out of it yet, but might need some help to get back into a playoff spot. Pictou County have won six straight games overall.
One of those division games kicks off a week of action as South Shore travels to Amherst in a game rescheduled from earlier this month due to road and weather conditions. The Ramblers have won the last four games in the head-to-head battle, including a 6-5 victory in Bridgewater on January 31st. The Lumberjacks dropped home games to the Crushers and Bearcats last week. Amherst won two of three, with a loss in Campbellton in the middle of wins against Yarmouth and Miramichi (12-31-3-1).
We have two Wednesday games this week. The first is another rescheduled game, this time from January, as Yarmouth travels to Amherst. Last week’s 5-2 win was the Ramblers first this season for the over the Mariners. Elsewhere, Miramichi heads to Edmundston. The Timberwolves have dropped four straight. Edmundston played a pair of shootouts, dropping a 4-3 decision in Summerside before a 5-4 comeback win in Fredericton.
There are two games Thursday. As mentioned, the Western Capitals host the Rapids. This is the lone game of the week for Grand Falls, who finish the season with two games next week. Summerside clinched the North and MHL regular season title with the shootout win against the Blizzard. It’s a huge game in New Glasgow as the Crushers host the Lumberjacks. Last season, the teams played a home and home series to finish the season, with South Shore eliminating Pictou County. Can the Crushers return the favour in 2019-20? With last week’s win, it’s possible.
Four games are on tap Friday. The MHL Game of the Week, free to watch on HockeyTV, is in Campbellton as the Tigers host the Timberwolves. Miramichi dropped a 6-3 decision at the Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre on Sunday. Summerside are back in action as they travel to Valley (11-33-3-0). The Wildcats picked up a 4-3 overtime win over Yarmouth last Friday before a close 2-1 loss to the crushers on Saturday. Fredericton make their only visit to Truro. It’s a big game for both teams, though more so for the Bearcats given the playoff situation in the South. Finally, Yarmouth and South Shore renew their rivalry at the Lunenburg County LifeStyle Centre. The Lumberjacks have won the last two meetings, including a 3-2 shootout win in Yarmouth earlier this month.
There are four more games on Saturday. Miramichi play their third game in four days as they finish off a home and home set against Campbellton. Valley are playing three games in three days this week, with the middle game in Amherst. The Ramblers have won all seven games so far, but the last meeting was a 4-3 overtime victory over the Wildcats. Yarmouth continue a busy week on the road as they head to Truro. The last two games have been 3-2 victories for the road team. The Crushers are on the road in New Brunswick, with a stop in Edmundston. The Blizzard beat the Crushers 4-2 on February 6th.
The week wraps up with three games on Sunday. There’s an important matchup in Campbellton as the Tigers host Fredericton. The Red Wings are 2-3-1-0 against the Tigers this season, and the teams will face off again on the final day of the regular season (March 8th) in a rescheduled game. Fredericton can move closer to clinching third place, and avoiding Summerside in the first round of the Canadian Tire Cup Playoffs, with a win. Elsewhere, the Crushers visit Grand Falls. The Rapids dropped a 5-4 decision in New Glasgow just two weeks ago. Valley hits the road to play South Shore. This is a must-win game for the Lumberjacks, and they’ve picked up victories over the Wildcats in their last two meetings.
All games can be viewed on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Venue | Time |
| Tue, Feb 25 | South Shore | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:30 pm AST |
| Wed, Feb 26 | Yarmouth | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm AST |
| Wed, Feb 26 | Miramichi | Edmundston | Centre Jean Daigle | 7:30 pm AST |
| Thu, Feb 27 | Grand Falls | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 pm AST |
| Thu, Feb 27 | South Shore | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Feb 28 | Miramichi | Campbellton | Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Feb 28 | Fredericton | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Feb 28 | Summerside | Valley | Kings Mutual Century Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Fri, Feb 28 | Yarmouth | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Feb 29 | Campbellton | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Feb 29 | Valley | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Feb 29 | Yarmouth | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm AST |
| Sat, Feb 29 | Pictou County | Edmundston | Centre Jean Daigle | 7:30 pm AST |
| Sun, Mar 1 | Fredericton | Campbellton | Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre | 3:00 pm AST |
| Sun, Mar 1 | Pictou County | Grand Falls | E. & P. Sénéchal Centre | 3:00 pm AST |
| Sun, Mar 1 | Valley | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 4:00 pm AST |