Eastlink North Division Semi-Finals
(2) Summerside Western Capitals vs. (3) Campbellton Tigers
Game 1 – Thursday, March 15th, 7:00PM – Credit Union Place
Game 2 – Saturday, March 17th, 7:00PM – Campbellton Memorial Civic Center
Game 3 – Monday, March 19th, 7:00PM – Credit Union Place
Game 4 – Wednesday, March 21st, 7:00PM – Campbellton Memorial Civic Center
Game 5 – Friday, March 23rd, 7:00PM – Credit Union Place*
Game 6 – Sunday, March 25th, 7:00PM – Campbellton Memorial Civic Center *
Game 7 – Tuesday, March 27th, 7:00PM – Credit Union Place *
*if necessary
| Summerside | Campbellton | |
| Record (MHL Rank) | 33-16-1-0 – 67 pts (3rd) | 24-22-2-2 – 52 pts (T-7th) |
| Last 10 Games (current streak) | 8-2-0-0 (won 2) | 4-5-0-1 (won 1) |
| Goals For (MHL Rank) | 213 (1st) | 134 (10th) |
| Goals Against (MHL Rank) | 142 (5th) | 158 (T-6th) |
| Powerplay Efficiency (MHL Rank) | 25.6% (1st) | 12.2% (12th) |
| Penalty Kill Efficiency (MHL Rank) | 85.4% (2nd) | 77.1% (10th) |
| Top Scorer (MHL Rank) | TJ Shea (43-62-105 – 1st) | Pierre-Luc Lurette (19-22-41 – 28th) |
| Top Scoring Defenseman | Jordan Spence (13-39-52) | Pierre-Luc Lurette (19-22-41) |
| Top Goaltender | Dominik Tmej (17-2, 2.06GAA, .941SV%, 6SO) | Greg Maggio (13-16-2, 3.14GAA, .907SV%, 1SO) |
| Head to Head Record | 3-3-0-0, 6 pts, 24 GF | 3-3-0-0, 6 pts, 20 GF |
| Leading Scorer in Season Series | Brodie MacArthur (3G, 7A) | Drew Toner (2G, 2A), Pierre-Luc Lurette (1G, 3A) & Francis Thibeault (0G, 4A) |
Previous Meetings
Campbellton 1 @ Summerside 4 – October 5th
Summerside 4 @ Campbellton 5 – December 10th
Campbellton 2 @ Summerside 4 – December 30th
Summerside 1 @ Campbellton 5 – February 2nd
Summerside 4 @ Campbellton 7 – February 17th
Campbellton 0 @ Summerside 7 – March 1st
Notes
- This is the second time in three years that the Western Capitals and Tigers will square off in the opening round of the MHL playoffs. In 2016, the Caps rallied from a 3-1 series deficit to defeat Campbellton in seven games.
- The Tigers will be looking to win their first playoff series since 2007, when they defeated the Woodstock Slammers three games to one in the now-defunct Bent Division Mini-Series
- The Western Capitals took home four major awards earlier this week. Forward TJ Shea was named MHL Player of the Year and league scoring champion thanks to his 105 point campaign. Additionally, Dominik Tmej and his league leading six shutouts earned Goaltender of the Year honors while defenseman Jordan Spence took home the award for Rookie of Year. The two clubs also combined for five selections on the All-Star and Rookie All-Star teams.
- The Western Capitals went on an outstanding 17-4 run from early January to the end of the season. Half of those losses came at the hands of the Campbellton Tigers on February 2nd and 17th, respectively.
- The Western Capitals have defeated the Tigers in each of the last three postseason meetings between the two clubs. Campbellton’s last series win over Summerside came in a four game, first round sweep back in 2003.
- The Tigers clinched third place in the division in large part thanks to a rigid defensive structure, led by veteran rearguard Pierre-Luc Lurette. Not to be outdone, Lurette also led the team in scoring. The Tigers are one of two clubs in the 2018 MHL playoffs that were led in regular season scoring by a defenseman.
Will MacLaren – themhl.ca