NAHL Weekend Preview

April 9, 2021

21 games are in the schedule this weekend in the NAHL as more playoff spots are on the line and looking to be clinched.

Just five weeks remain in the 2020-21 regular season and three of the 12 available playoff spots have been clinched to date.

The 2021 Robertson Cup Playoffs begin the third week in May and the top four teams in each division will qualify for the post-season. The four divisional playoff winners will meet for the 2021 Robertson Cup Championship, which is scheduled to be held at Fogerty Arena in Blaine, MN, from June 18-22.

Another player announced his NCAA Division I commitment this past week. That brings bringing the current season total to 281 players (including a new record of 262 Division I commitments) who are playing in the league and are committed to playing NCAA hockey in 2020-21.

In the Central Division, the action got started early this week as the Wilderness beat the Bobcats on Thursday night. With the Bobcats loss, the Aberdeen Wings officially cliched the Central Division regular season title. The Wings take to road to face St. Cloud, who are eight points out of the final playoff spot. The Norsemen will face the Wings twice and then the Minotauros on Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, Minot will be in Cloquet to face the Wilderness in a battle of 3^rd and 4^th place teams. Bismarck will stay on the road to face the Austin Bruins with the Bruins needing points as they sit in 5^th place, five points out of the playoff spot.

In the East, the 1^st place Johnstown Tomahawks look to close in on a playoff spot as they bring a four-game winning streak into their home series against the Maryland Black Bears. The Black Bears, who are in the 4^th and final playoff spot, are 3-0-1 in their last four games. There is a big series in Danbury this weekend as the Jr. Hat Tricks host the Northeast Generals with both teams needing wins and points to get back into the playoff race. Finally, in Maine, the Nordiques and Titans look to put an end to their respective losing skids as they have both lost ground chasing the Tomahawks for the top spot.

In the Midwest, the Janesville Jets got their weekend started early with a 4-3 shootout win in Chippewa on Thursday. They will now take to the road to face the Minnesota Magicians in the only weekend series in the division.

In the South, the red-hot and 1^st place Shreveport Mudbugs, who are 7-0-1 in their last eight games, look to continue their hot play by hosting the Odessa Jackalopes. The Amarillo Bulls are on the cusp of clinching a playoff spot, but face a tough task as they are in Lone Star to face the Brahmas, who have won three in a row. The final series has the New Mexico Ice Wolves back at home at the Outpost Arenas as they look to build on their 4-1 win over the Wichita Falls Warriors on Thursday with two more games on Friday and Saturday.

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FRI, APRIL 9

Northeast at Danbury - 7:00 PM EDT

New Jersey at Maine - 7:00 PM EDT

Maryland at Johnstown - 7:30 PM EDT

Aberdeen at St. Cloud - 7:00 PM CDT

Bismarck at Austin - 7:05 PM CDT

Odessa at Shreveport - 7:11 PM CDT

Janesville at MN Magicians - 7:15 PM CDT

Minot at MN Wilderness - 7:15 PM CDT