Like most sports teams, the UPEI men's hockey Panthers went through a number of highs and lows during the regular season.
It just so happens the Panthers experienced their highest point during the final stretch of the regular season and head into the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak and home-ice advantage for the opening round.
The fourth-place Panthers (15-11-2) will host the fifth-place St. F.X. X-Men (11-12-5) in Game 1 of their best-of-three, quarter-final series tonight at MacLauchlan Arena. Game time is 7 p.m.
Game 2 is scheduled for Friday at St. F.X. in Antigonish, N.S. If Game 3 is needed, it will be played Sunday in Charlottetown at 4 p.m.
Tickets for tonight's game go on sale at the arena box office from 3 p.m. until game time.
If tonight's game is cancelled due to pending weather conditions, the series could start on Thursday in Charlottetown.
UPEI holds a 3-1 record, including a 6-5 shootout win Saturday, over St. F.X. during the regular season, with three of those games extending beyond regulation.
Panthers' head coach Forbes MacPherson, who took over the team on an interim basis in December, said the players went through a lot together over the season, especially during the time of the coaching change, but became a stronger and more confident group because of it.
"This is the time of year where (the players) get to reap the benefits of all the hard work they put in," said MacPherson.
When MacPherson and his staff took over, the focus was on simply making the playoffs.
But, as time went on, he knew the team was capable of more.
"Along the way, (the coaching staff) kind of challenged the team and that was one of the ways (the team) raised the bar," said MacPherson.
His said the team is excited to be in the playoffs and is looking forward to the challenge.
"There will be lots of energy and lots of excitement in the air for Game 1."
The 15 wins this season is the most by a UPEI?men's hockey team since the 1995-6 season when it finished with a 15-10-1 record.
Defending national champion UNB?and Acadia, who finished one-two, have a first-round bye in the playoffs. UNB?(27-1) set AUS records for most wins and points (54) in a single season and was ranked No. 1 in the country for 14 straight weeks.
Moncton and Saint Mary's are scheduled to open their series tonight in Halifax.
