The Caps overcame a three-goal deficit Saturday night.

MacArthur ties franchise record for points

SUMMERSIDE – Although it was a meaningless game, there was no lack of excitement as the Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals concluded the 2018-19 MHL (Maritime Junior Hockey League) regular season on Saturday night.

The Caps rallied from a 4-1 second-period deficit for a 5-4 shootout win over the Campbellton Tigers in a game that had no impact on the final standings for either team.

The Caps, who enter the playoffs with a league-leading 40-8-2 (won-lost-overtime losses) record, had to wait until Sunday to find out who they will meet in the best-of-seven Eastlink North Division semifinal series. The Miramichi Timberwolves (19-273) can gain the fourth and final playoff berth with a win at the Edmundston Blizzard (25-17-7).

A Miramichi loss will send the St. Stephen Aces (20-27-3) to a first-round playoff date against the Caps. St. Stephen held a twopoint lead over Miramichi entering Sunday’s play.

Before over 1,300 fans at Eastlink Arena, Kayden Peck and Cameron Roberts scored in the shootout for the Caps while Jared Janke netted the Tigers’ lone goal. Brodie MacArthur and Dylan Riley each had two goals and an assist in regulation time to lead the Caps. MacArthur, who sits atop the league scoring race, tied Darcy Tuplin’s Caps’ franchise record for points – 110 – that was set in the 2005-06 season.

Roberts (2), Conor MacEachern (2), Jacob Arsenault and Noah Massie added assists for the Caps, who enter the postseason on a six-game winning streak.

Dawson Stairs (2), Coleton Perry of North Bedeque and Joel Walker found the back of the net for the Tigers (31-13-6). Campbellton will have home-ice advantage against Edmundston in the other North Division semifinal series.

Pier-Olivier Michaud (2), Brendan Bornstein (2), Janke and Sam Dow chipped in with assists.

Overall, the Caps outshot the Tigers 47-29, including a 23-3 advantage in the second period. Dominik Tmej earned the goaltending win over Marc-Antoine Berube-Jalbert.

The period scores were 3-1 and 4-2 in favour of Campbellton.

The game’s three stars were:

1. Brodie MacArthur (Caps),

2. Dylan Riley (Caps), 3. PierOlivier Michaud (Tigers).