It’s an early start to the schedule this week, with a rare Tuesday game as the Pictou County Weeks Crushers (2-10-3-2) are home to the Eastlink South Division leading Yarmouth Mariners (14-3-0-1). The Crushers are coming off a tough overtime loss against the Truro Bearcats (11-4-1-1), while Yarmouth picked up back to back wins over Valley (4-10-3-0) and Miramichi (8-7-2-0).
The Crushers are back on home ice on Thursday against the Wildcats. These teams opened the MHL regular season schedule back on September 13th, in a game won by Pictou County 2-1 in overtime. Elsewhere, a rivalry like few others is renewed in Amherst (13-5-0-0) as the Ramblers host the Bearcats in a battle for second place in the division. The teams have split the first two meetings of the season, which were both played in Truro.
Friday is the busiest night of the week, with five games in tap. South Shore (7-8-2-0) host the Ramblers at the Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre. The Lumberjacks are 1-1-1-0 against Amherst this season. The Wildcats and Mariners meet for the fifth time this season. Then we have a slate of Eastlink North Division matchups. Grand Falls (4-10-1-0) travel to St. Stephen (7-10-1-0). The Rapids need a win to not just gain ground on the 5th place Aces, but to snap their current winless streak of 0-7-1-0. Edmundston (9-7-2-0) are on the road to face Campbellton (9-4-0-2) as those two teams enter the week tied for 2nd place in the North. The Tigers pulled out a 5-4 overtime win in Edmundston last weekend to run their record to 6-0-0-2 in their last eight games. This is also the MHL Game of the Week, and free to watch on HockeyTV. Then in Miramichi, the Timberwolves are home to division-leading Summerside (14-3-0-0). The Western Caps have won five in a row and have been flipping back and forth with Yarmouth for the top overall spot in the MHL.
There are just two games on Saturday. Summerside are in tough against Campbellton at Credit Union Place in the first of seven meetings between these teams this season. The Blizzard and Timberwolves meet in Miramichi, where Edmundston will look to pick up their third straight win in the head to head series.
Then on Sunday, the week finishes as it started as the Pictou County Weeks Crushers face the Mariners, this time in Yarmouth. This was one of a handful of games that were shifted due to the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge schedule. The Mariners have posted a 5-2 victory and a 3-2 overtime win over the Crushers this season.
All games can be viewed on HockeyTV.
| Date | Visiting | Home | Venue | Time |
| Tue, Nov 6 | Yarmouth | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Thu, Nov 8 | Truro | Amherst | Amherst Stadium | 7:00 PM |
| Thu, Nov 8 | Valley | Pictou County | Pictou County Wellness Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Nov 9 | Amherst | South Shore | Lunenburg County Lifestyle Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Nov 9 | Grand Falls | St. Stephen | Garcelon Civic Centre | 7:00 PM |
| Fri, Nov 9 | Edmundston | Campbellton | Campbellton Memorial Civic Centre | 7:30 PM |
| Fri, Nov 9 | Valley | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 7:30 PM |
| Fri, Nov 9 | Summerside | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:30 PM |
| Sat, Nov 10 | Campbellton | Summerside | Credit Union Place | 7:00 PM |
| Sat, Nov 10 | Edmundston | Miramichi | Miramichi Civic Centre | 7:30 PM |
| Sun, Nov 11 | Pictou County | Yarmouth | Mariners Centre | 6:00 PM |
Statistically Speaking
With the MHL North and South rosters for the Eastern Canada Cup All-Star Challenge announced earlier this week, how do they shape up with scoring punch?
Given the inclusion of six players from the Summerside Western Capitals, it should come as no surprise that the North squad has more scoring punch. Heading into this week, the 20 players named to the roster have scored 114 goals and 159 assists for 273 points, along with a combined 19 game-winning goals. Special teams production? 38 goals and 57 assists on the powerplay, and five goals and three assists while shorthanded.
In the South, the roster has a combined 81 goals and 98 assists for 179 points, including 14 game-winning goals. The 20 players also have 21 goals and 31 assists on the powerplay, with three goals and five assists while shorthanded.
All of that said, the stats can’t spell out how good defensively each side is. The tournament runs from November 19-21 in Trenton, Ontario.