Eastlink North Division Semi-Finals
(1) Edmundston Blizzard vs. (4) Miramichi Timberwolves
Game 1 – Friday, March 16th, 7:30PM – Centre Jean-Daigle
Game 2 – Sunday, March 18th, 7:30PM – Miramichi Civic Center
Game 3 – Tuesday, March 20th, 7:30PM – Centre Jean-Daigle
Game 4 – Thursday, March 22nd, 7:30PM – Miramichi Civic Center
Game 5 – Saturday, March 24th, 7:30PM – Centre Jean-Daigle *
Game 6 – Monday, March 26th, 7:30PM – Miramichi Civic Center *
Game 7 – Tuesday, March 27th, 7:30PM – Centre Jean-Daigle *
*if necessary
| Edmundston | Miramichi | |
| Record (MHL Rank) | 36-10-4-0 – 76 pts (1st) | 23-21-3-3 – 52 pts (T-7th) |
| Last 10 Games (current streak) | 7-2-1-0 (lost 2) | 3-7-0-0 (lost 1) |
| Goals For (MHL Rank) | 180 (5th) | 163 (6th) |
| Goals Against (MHL Rank) | 137 (T-3rd) | 162 (8th) |
| Powerplay Efficiency (MHL Rank) | 24.4% (2nd) | 20.8% (5th) |
| Penalty Kill Efficiency (MHL Rank) | 84.0% (T-3rd) | 85.9% (1st) |
| Top Scorer (MHL Rank) | Logan Johnston (25-40-65 – 5th) | Mitchell Kreis (21-32-53 – 12th) |
| Top Scoring Defenseman | Alexandre Bernier (7-33-40) | Mitchell Kreis (21-32-53) |
| Top Goaltender | Francis Asselin (24-9, 2.60GAA, .912SV%, 3SO) | Tanner Somers (17-16-2, 3.25GAA, .906SV%, 1SO) |
| Head to Head Record | 4-2-0-0, 8 pts, 26 GF | 2-4-0-0, 4 pts, 19 GF |
| Leading Scorer in Season Series | Logan Johnston (6G, 4A) | Mitchell Kreis (4G, 4A) |
Previous Meetings
Edmundston 4 @ Miramichi 3 – September 30th
Edmundston 3 @ Miramichi 4 – November 10th
Miramichi 5 @ Edmundston 4 – January 12th
Miramichi 1 @ Edmundston 3 – January 28th
Edmundston 7 @ Miramichi 4 – February 24th
Miramichi 2 @ Edmundston 5 – March 7th
Notes
- The Blizzard capped off a successful first season in Edmundston by capturing the MHL regular season title. The last time a team won its division in its first season after relocating occurred in 1998-99, when the Dartmouth Oland Exports moved across the harbor to Halifax.
- The Timberwolves enter the 2018 MHL playoffs as the defending Eastlink North Division playoff champions. The team embarked on its most successful postseason run in franchise history last year before falling to the Truro Bearcats in an epic seven game showdown.
- Though the Blizzard are taking to the ice in the postseason for the first time, their former incarnation – the Dieppe Commandos – were no stranger to playoff clashes with the T-Wolves. The two teams faced off in back to back division finals in 2014 and 2015. The Commandos won each of those series in six games.
- For the second year in a row, the Timberwolves boast the league’s Defenseman of the Year. Mitchell Kreis took home those honors while also leading all blueliners in scoring with 21 goals and 53 points.
- Although the Blizzard were obviously a success on the ice during the 2017-18 season, it was at the gate that they turned the most heads. Edmundston averaged 2115 fans per game in 24 home games this year, far and away the top attendance numbers in the league. They consistently attracted at or near sellout crowds at their brand new home rink, le Centre Jean-Daigle, after moving there in late October.
- Don’t let the 24 point difference in the standings fool you – the Timberwolves proved throughout the season series that they are capable of playing the Blizzard close. The first four games of the season series between these two clubs were decided by two goals or less – and the first three by a single tally.
Will MacLaren – themhl.ca