SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — The Summerside D. Alex MacDonald Ford Western Capitals will be able to enjoy some home cooking for the next week.
The Capitals, who took a 33-6-2 (won-lost-overtime losses) record into Friday’s road game against the Truro Bearcats (22-16-4), will begin a stretch of three home games at Eastlink Arena over a six-day stretch on Saturday against the Campbellton Tigers (24-12-5) at 7 p.m.
The South Shore Lumberjacks (19-17-3), who are fighting for their playoff lives in the Eastlink South Division, travel to Summerside for the Caps’ annual Islander Day game on Monday at 2 p.m.
The Grand Falls Rapids (11-22-6) will provide the opposition on Thursday at 7 p.m.
After Friday’s game, which concluded a stretch of four straight on the road, the Caps will play six of their last eight regular-season games on home ice.
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Can clinch division
The Capitals, who were ranked fourth in this week’s Canadian Junior Hockey League rankings, can clinch the Eastlink North Division regular-season title over the long weekend with a pair of wins. The Caps hold a 15-point lead over the second-place Tigers. The Caps went into Friday’s action with 68 points and the Tigers were at 53. Each team has nine games remaining, so if the Tigers were to run the table the highest point total they can finish with is 71.
The Caps are also in the driver’s seat in the league’s overall standings for home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. Summerside holds a four-point lead over the Eastlink South Division-leading Yarmouth Mariners (30-8-4). Yarmouth has eight contests to play.
