Caps open vs. Blizzard on Saturday

Games 3, 4 back in Summerside on April 3, 4

The schedule has been finalized for the Eastlink North Division final in the MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League). The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals and Edmundston Blizzard will play a 2-2-1-1-1 format.

The series will open with the first two games in Edmundson, N.B., on Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1. The teams return to Eastlink Arena for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, April 3, and Wednesday, April 4. If necessary, the teams will rotate Games 5, 6 and 7.

All games in Edmundston are 7:30 p.m. starts, and the Caps’ home games all begin at 7 p.m.

With the Blizzard regularly selling out the new Jean Daigle Centre and the Caps attracting over 1,800 fans to their last home playoff game, this series is expected to draw big crowds in both centres.

Top teams

The series pits two of the top three teams in the regular season. The Blizzard won the regular-season title with a 36-10-4-0 (won-lost-overtime lossesshootout losses) record for 76 points. The Caps were second in the Eastlink North Division and third overall in the 12-team league on the strength of a 3316-1-0 record, good enough for 67 points.

In head-to-head meetings, the Blizzard won four of six

regular-season games with the Caps. However, the Caps did win won the final two meetings, both in Summerside, 4-0 on Jan. 25 and 5-1 on Feb. 8. All three Caps’ losses in Edmundston were by one goal – 3-2, 6-5 and 4-3. The Blizzard also posted a 7-4 win in Summerside on Oct. 15.

Fatigue should not be an issue for either team starting the series.

The Blizzard completed a sweep of the Miramichi Timberwolves in one division semifinal on Thursday, and the Caps clinched their five-game series win over the Campbellton Tigers on Friday night.