It’s an early start to MHL action this week, with a pair of games on tap on Tuesday, and there are a number of tight playoff races up and down the standings.
The Summerside Western Capitals (31-5-0-1) are home to Grand Falls (10-20-4-2) in one of two games on Tuesday. Summerside, fresh off moving to the #3 team in the CJHL weekly rankings, are on a 12-0-0-1 streak thanks to wins last week over Pictou County (17-15-3-3), Campbellton (23-11-2-3), and Miramichi (15-22-2-0). Grand Falls hit a road bump in their playoff push with three straight losses, including to Pictou County and Campbellton (in overtime), and have their hands full here. In Berwick, the Amherst Ramblers (26-11-1-1) look to bounce back against the Valley Wildcats (6-28-4-0) as they begin a stretch of three games in three days. The Ramblers are six points back of Yarmouth (28-7-3-1) for 1st in the Eastlink South, but lost back to back games to the Mariners last weekend. The Wildcats are on a three-game slide and had only one game last week: a 4-0 loss to Pictou County.
There are two games on Thursday. The Crushers return home to take on Campbellton. Pictou County started last week with a loss in Summerside for their second loss in a row, something which hadn’t happened since early November, but bounced back with wins over Grand Falls and Valley to move to within six points of the third-place Truro Bearcats (21-15-2-2) in the South with two games in hand. The Tigers lost to Campbellton last Friday to snap a four-game win streak, but then picked up an overtime victory over Grand Falls the next night. Campbellton has two games this week, and a pair of wins will clinch a playoff spot. The night’s other game features Yarmouth in Bridgewater against South Shore (18-16-3-0). This is the first of four remaining games between these clubs before the season ends. The Lumberjacks, fresh off back to back wins over Truro, have won two of three meetings against the Mariners and remain just one point back of the Crushers for fourth place.
A busy night on Friday kicks off in Amherst with the Game of the Week(free to watch on HockeyTV) as the Ramblers host the Timberwolves. Miramichi is one point back of St. Stephen (15-22-3-0) for fourth in the division with a game in hand. The teams have split their first two meetings. The Bearcats and Wildcats meet at the RECC. Truro is 0-4-0-1 in their last five games and need a win here as they could enter the night just four points ahead of the Crushers. What was once a comfortable position in the division is in jeopardy, and the Wildcats would love nothing more than to skate away with two points against a divisional rival.
The Lumberjacks and Mariners meet again, this time in Yarmouth. In New Glasgow, the Aces hit the ice against the Crushers, having won two of their last three games. This is their first meeting of the season, with the teams scheduled to face off back in St. Stephen early next month. And in Grand Falls, the Rapids play their second game of the week against the Western Capitals.
It’s a light night on Saturday with only three games, starting off with Amherst and Valley playing again in Berwick. Campbellton and Miramichi resume their rivalry with their fifth meeting of the season. Campbellton has won four of the five, but all have been close, adding to the intensity of the game itself which has playoff implications. The Blizzard (20-14-4-0) hit the ice at home in the first of back to back matchups with Summerside. Edmundston has dropped two straight games by identical 6-5 scores last week and are 1-3 against the Western Capitals.
The week wraps up with three games on Sunday. The aforementioned Summerside/Edmundston game is one of two afternoon games. The other will see the Aces and Rapids playing in Grand Falls. Any head to head matchup between these teams and Miramichi is must-watch as only one of the three is likely to head to the post-season. In the evening, Truro head to Yarmouth. The Mariners are 5-0 against the Bearcats this season.
All games are available to watch on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Venue | Time |
| Tue, Feb 5 | Amherst | Valley | Kings Mutual Century Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Tue, Feb 5 | Grand Falls | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 pm |
| Thu, Feb 7 | Yarmouth | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Thu, Feb 7 | Campbellton | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Feb 8 | Valley | Truro | Rath Eastlink Community Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Fri, Feb 8 | South Shore | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Fri, Feb 8 | Miramichi | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:30 pm |
| Fri, Feb 8 | St. Stephen | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Fri, Feb 8 | Summerside | Grand Falls | E. & P. Sénéchal Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Sat, Feb 9 | Amherst | Valley | Kings Mutual Century Centre | 7:00 pm |
| Sat, Feb 9 | Campbellton | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:30 pm |
| Sat, Feb 9 | Summerside | Edmundston | Centre Jean Daigle | 7:30 pm |
| Sun, Feb 10 | St. Stephen | Grand Falls | E. & P. Sénéchal Centre | 3:00 pm |
| Sun, Feb 10 | Summerside | Edmundston | Centre Jean Daigle | 3:00 pm |
| Sun, Feb 10 | Truro | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:00 pm |