MJHL East Division – Round One
Pistons (1) vs Steelers (4)
Best of seven series tied 1-1
Game 1: Selkirk (2) @ Steinbach (5)
Game 2: Steinbach (1) @ Selkirk (3)
Game 3: Selkirk @ Steinbach – Friday, April 1 @ 7:30PM
Series notes: The Pistons got off to a strong start in game one on home ice, scoring three goals in five minutes to take an early lead and hold of game one. Selkirk scored scored a pair of goals but their comeback effort fell short as the Pistons would take game one. Game two in Selkirk was a much different story, the Steelers and Pistons were locked at 1-1 heading into the third period before Lucas Brennan and Matthew Gerke scored to give Selkirk a 2-goal lead. Hunter Tarves stopped 28/29 shots while the Steelers did a strong job of smothering the Pistons to take game two and tie the series at 1-1.
Flyers (2) vs Blues (3)
Blues lead best of seven series 2-1
Game 1: Winnipeg (3) @ Winkler (9)
Game 2: Winkler (0) @ Winnipeg (1)
Game 3: Winkler (3) @ Winnipeg (5)
Game 4: Winnipeg @ Winkler – Friday, April 1 @ 7:30PM
Series notes: The Winkler Flyers stormed out of the gate on home ice in game one in front of a packed house and took a 5-1 lead heading into the second period. The Blues scored a pair of goals in the second to close the gap to a two-goal game but that would be as close as they would get with the Flyers pouring it on in the third to take game one. Game two was a much different story as both teams buckled down defensively in a goaltending duel between Dylan Meilun and Dawson Green. With just under six minutes to play in the third, Eric Fawkes scored what proved to be the game winning goal in a tight 1-0 victory, tying the series at 1-1. Game three saw a more back and forth affair with the game tied at 2-2 in the second period, Winnipeg poured it on and outshot the Flyers 15-6, scoring two more times from the stick of Eric Fawkes and Mathieu Moreira. Justin Svenson scored early in the third to make it a 4-3 game and the Flyers would push hard to outshoot the Blues 17-4 in the period but it wouldn’t be enough as Jack Kaiser scored an insurance goal on a strong breakaway effort to give the Blues a 5-3 win and a 2-1 series lead heading back to Winkler for game four in what should be a full arena for games four and five.
MJHL West Division – Round One
Kings (1) vs Stampeders (4)
Kings lead best of seven series 2-0
Game 1: Swan Valley (1) @ Dauphin (5)
Game 2: Swan Valley (2) @ Dauphin (3)
Game 3: Dauphin @ Swan Valley – Friday, April 1 @ 7:30PM
Series notes: It was all Dauphin Kings in game one as they got off to a strong start in the second period after taking a 1-0 lead in the first. Dauphin scored three goals in the second, adding one in the third while outshooting the Stamps’ 46-29. As they have all season, the Kings received strong contributions from the backend. Game two was a much different story for the Stampeders as they came out playing a structurally sound game despite being outshot 12-4 in the first. The Stampeders would score once in the first and once in the second before the Kings fought their way back into it. Luke Morris cut the lead in half before Parker Malchuk and Owen Wareham scored in the third to take a 3-2 lead. Swan Valley did everything they could in the third to try and tie the game, outshooting Dauphin 14-7 but just couldn’t get the tying goal. The series now shifts to Swan River for the next two games where they play their best hockey on home ice.
Wolverines (2) vs Oil Capitals (3)
Oil Capitals lead best of seven series 2-0
Game 1: Virden (3) @ Waywayseecappo (2) F/OT
Game 2: Waywayseecappo (3) @ Virden (4)
Game 3: Virden @ Waywayseecappo – Thursday, March 31 @ 7:30PM
Series notes: The Oil Capitals got off to a solid start in game one on the road, scoring a powerplay goal late in the first period. The Wolverines got on the board in the second before Colin Cook gave the Oil Capitals a 2-1 lead with another late goal. Waywayseecappo would turn it on in the third and Reagan Rabbit would scored early to tie the game up at 2-2. Game one would require overtime where Logan Rands scored at 7:31 in the first ot to give the Oil Caps’ a 1-0 lead on the road. Game two was a similar story for both clubs, exchanging goals back and forth in the first period to take a 2-2 tie into the second. Virden would score once more in the second and early in the third to grab a two-goal lead. Boston Bird scored his third of the game for the Wolverines on the powerplay but it wouldn’t be enough as a strong effort from the Oil Capitals gave them the win and a 2-0 series lead heading back to Waywayseecappo for game 3 on Thursday night.