MGEU West
(1) Swan Valley Stampeders vs (4) Dauphin Kings
Swan Valley leads series 2-1
After going down 2-0, the Kings responded with a dominant performance not just on the scoreboard but in locking down the lead. Twice Dauphin was in the final minutes with a lead and both times Swan was able to come back to get the win.
The Stamps have the top scoring defender to go along with four forwards who are over a point per game in the series. After being very hard to score against in the first game, the Stamps have allowed 11 goals in their last two games.
Dauphin has opened the scoring twice. In games where they score first, they are 0-2. When giving up the first goal, they are 1-0.
In the opening round of last year’s playoffs, when these two teams locked up, Dauphin scored 6 goals in game three, just like this year. In game four last year, the Stamps responded by scoring 6 goals. A big difference is Swan was at home last year, this year they’ll be playing game four at Credit Union Place.
(2) OCN Blizzard vs (3) Virden Oil Capitals
Series tied 2-2
A double overtime win on home ice pulled the Oil Caps away from the brink and turned the series into a best of three. Both teams have won a game at home but also lost a game on home ice. It’s been the home team responding after losing the previous game.
Virden has scored 4 goals three times in the series, winning twice and losing once. OCN has scored more than 4 goals only once (6). Going back to last year’s playoffs, the Oil Caps have only scored more than 4 goals in a game one time, an overtime win in game 3 of the first round.
OCN is the least penalized team in the league through four games with 44 minutes in penalties while Virden is only slightly ahead, sitting at 50. The Blizzard were 6th in PIM across the MJHL in the regular season with 1006.
After going two in OCN and then two in Virden, games five, six and if necessary, seven will flip- flop locations starting with game five in OCN. The schedule calls for game-day off-game the rest of the way.
MGEU East
(1) Portage Terriers vs (4) Niverville Nighthawks
Terriers lead series 2-1
After making the playoffs in their inaugural season, the Nighthawks have their first post-season win under their belts. Both games in Portage have come down to a single goal being the difference. All three games so far have been high scoring. The teams have combined for 25 goals in three games.
Portage had the second most wins at home (22) during the regular season but own the best road record in the league at 21-6-1-1. The Terriers have not lost back-to-back playoff games since the MJHL Finals in 2019. They would go on to win that series in 7.
Niverville has a top 3 power play and a top 4 penalty kill to this point in the playoffs. 13 different players have contributed at least a point in the opening round series.
Both teams are set to embark on a potential three game in four-night stretch. Back-to-back games four and five with game six, if necessary, on Sunday.
(2) Steinbach Pistons vs (3) Winkler Flyers
Pistons lead series 3-1
A tough series to this point, the Pistons have grinded away back-to-back one goal wins to push the Flyers to the brink heading back to Steinbach for game five. In game one of the series, the teams combined for 9 goals. In the three games since, they’ve combined for just 10.
Goaltending has been great for both teams but Steinbach’s netminder has the edge, coming off two marvelous performances including a shutout. The last Pistons playoff shutout came in game 5 of the MJHL finals in 2022.
The Flyers have not lost three straight playoff games since the 2018 Semi-Finals. In a series where offence has been hard to come by, the Flyers have 11 players with at least a point. 7 players have scored at least a goal for Winkler, so far with one player having multiple goals.
Games continue to line up at a quick pace with game five happening just seven days after the series starts. The two teams will go every other night as long as the series continues.
