Islanders begin stretch drive

Charlottetown Islanders looking to fine tune their game with six contests left in regular season

It’s playoff push time for the Charlottetown Islanders.

The team has six games remaining in the regular season, including tonight’s 7 p.m. contest in Saint John, N.B., against the Sea Dogs.

“I think anytime when you flip that calendar to March your thoughts head to playoffs,” head coach Jim Hulton said Thursday. “Now we want to make sure that our game is moving in the right direction.”

Charlottetown is 34-22-6-0 and has clinched a playoff spot while Saint John (13-38-9-2) is a long shot to make the postseason dance.

The Islanders are in the middle of the pack and still have

the ability to earn home-ice advantage, but it could take some help from other teams.

“That’s beyond our control,” Hulton said. “Right now, all we can worry about is our own group.”

He said the team bounced back from its loss to Victoriaville on Friday by winning Sunday against Moncton, but there are still some things in its game that need to be improved.

Sam King acknowledge the team is excited about the playoffs, but it must take care of the business at hand first.

“We still have to focus on these next few games and try and get a couple points,” he said.

The Islanders hold a 6-1-1-0 record against the Sea Dogs this season.

Defenceman Hunter Drew will serve the final game of his two-game suspension tonight while Matthew Welsh will get the start in the Isles crease.