The Waywayseecappo Wolverines (28-20-5-2) will make their last overnight road trip of the regular season on Friday when the club travels south to Winkler to kick off back-to-back games against the Flyers (36-16-2-3).
In the final stretch of the regular season, the Wolverines have gone 6-3-1-0 in their last ten and 3-0-1-0 in their last four.
Most recently, the Wolverines are fresh off of an impressive 4-2 win over the fourth-place Swan Valley Stampeders, a game that could have been a first-round playoffs series preview.
Fans will get another look at a potential playoff preview when the puck drops between the Wolverines and Flyers on Friday night in Winkler.
Head to Head
In their first four meetings of the season, the Wolverines have faired well going 2-1-0-1.
It’s been quite some time since the two clubs met back on December 15 when the Wolverines skated to a 6-3 win on home ice. Just two weeks prior to that, the Wolverines edged the Flyers in a close 3-2 contest in Waywayseecappo.
In the Wolverines lone trip to Winkler on October 22, the Wolverines dropped a disappointing 4-3 shootout loss.
Leading the Flyers three different times, Winkler found an answer each time and ultimately took the game in the shootout.
The previous history between these two clubs mixed with the energy of the push to the playoffs should make for some must-see hockey on Friday and Saturday night in Winkler.
Flyers Outlook
While the Flyers sit comfortably in third place, they have gone just 5-5-0-0 over their last ten games and 2-4-0-0 in their last six.
Most recently, the Flyers shutout the Selkirk Steelers 1-0 on home ice just a few days ago in a 29 save shutout from starting Goaltender, Dorrin Luding.
The Flyers are led offensively by 18-year-old Forward, Jayden McCarthy (55GP-28G-32A) and 19-year-old Defenseman, Drake Burgin (57GP-10G-40A).
Winkler boasts one of the best home records in the MJHL with an 18-6-1-2 track record in their 27 home games so far this season.
News and Notes
Rayman Bassi will suit up in his 99th CJHL game on Friday night and will hit the century mark on Saturday night in the second half of the Wolverines back-to-back against Winkler.
Heading into Friday night, the Wolverines hold a one-point lead over the Virden Oil Capitals for fifth place, both having played 55 games. Dauphin remains four points back of the Wolverines in seventh.
Wolverines Goaltender, Colin Ahern is expected to get his 15th straight start on Friday night against the Flyers.
Winkler is 17-1-0-0 when leading after the first and 24-1-1-0 when leading after the second. If the Wolverines will have success against the Flyers on their home ice, they’ll need to find a way to beat Dorrin Luding early.
After Friday night, the Wolverines will have just four regular-season games remaining before the start of the 2020 MJHL Playoffs.
Where To Watch
Watch tonight’s game between the Wolverines and Flyers live on HockeyTV.com or follow the Wolverines on Twitter @mjhlWolverines for live game updates.