NAHL Weekend Preview

March 22, 2019

The 2019 NAHL Combines begin next weekend in Chicago and run for 6 weeks. Limited spots are available so sign up today at: http://nahl.com/fpc/events/

Just three weekends remain in the 2018-19 NAHL regular season and this weekend features another busy schedule with 23 games.

While the playoff picture has come into focus the past few weeks, there are still a few things yet to be decided, offering some intriguing story lines.

The 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Playoffs begin the week of April 8th with the start of the Division Semi-Finals. It all leads up to the 2019 NAHL Robertson Cup Championship, which will take place from May 10-14 at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, Minnesota.

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In the Central Division, the four teams headed to the playoffs are already settled. All that remains to be seen is where teams 2-4 end up in the standings. That has a good chance to be decided this weekend as all four playoff teams will battle in a pair of series. Top-seeded Aberdeen will host the 2nd place Minot Minotauros, while the 3rd place Austin Bruins are in Bismarck to take on the 4th place Bobcats, who are just one point back of Austin for 3rd place. The Minnesota Wilderness are in Brookings to take on the Blizzard as both teams look to build momentum for next season.

One of the best races for the playoffs is in the East Division and this weekend could go a long way in determining who will make it as the Northeast Generals and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights battle in a three-game series with the Generals just one point ahead for the 4th and final playoff spot. In the other series, the 2nd place Jamestown Rebels are in New Jersey to face the 3rd place Titans in a potential playoff preview with New Jersey only needing a few more wins to lock up a playoff spot. Johnstown and Maryland are idle.

In the Midwest Division, the four playoff teams have been determined, but a division champion is still up for grabs. The Fairbanks Ice Dogs are in the driver’s seat and need just a few more wins or combination of Minnesota Magicians losses to claim the title. Fairbanks beat Kenai River 5-2 on Thursday and will look to continue that momentum with two more road games this weekend. The Magicians look to keep the heat on in a series with the Janesville Jets, who clinched a playoff spot with the Kenai River loss on Thursday. The final series has the Springfield Jr. Blues on the road to face the Chippewa Steel.

The other intriguing race is in the South. With Amarillo locked into the #1 spot, the race is for the final playoff spot. With their 2-0 win on Thursday in Odessa, the Topeka Pilots are just three points back of Corpus Christi for the final playoff spot. Topeka will have two more games in Odessa this weekend, while the IceRays are in Shreveport. The Mudbugs can clinch a playoff spot with a few more wins, while the IceRays are looking to snap a three-game slide. Meanwhile, in Lone Star, all eyes are on Amarillo forward Logan Jenuwine, who with 51 goals, is just four shy of equaling the all-time NAHL single-season record of 55.

FRI, MARCH 22

Jamestown at New Jersey - 7:00 PM EDT

Northeast at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton - 7:00 PM EDT

Janesville at MN Magicians - 7:00 PM CDT

MN Wilderness at Brookings - 7:05 PM CDT

Springfield at Chippewa - 7:10 PM CDT

Topeka at Odessa - 7:11 PM CDT

Corpus Christi at Shreveport - 7:11 PM CDT

Minot at Aberdeen - 7:15 PM CDT

Austin at Bismarck - 7:15 PM CDT

Amarillo at Lone Star - 7:30 PM CDT

Fairbanks at Kenai River - 7:30 PM AKDT