Cape Breton West Islanders need to run the table at home this weekend

CBW down two games to none in Eastlink NSMMHL round two

Cape Breton West Major Midget Islanders’ goaltender Kenzie MacPhail keeps his eye on the puck despite a sliding Cole Harbour Wolfpack player taking out his legs, during the Wolfpack’s 4-1 win in East Hants Sunday afternoon. Also pictured from the Islanders is Dell Welton. - Richard MacKenzie

The Cape Breton West Major Midget Islanders find themselves on the brink of elimination after a weekend sweep at the hands of the Cole Harbour Pro Hockey Life Wolfpack.

Playing Saturday (March 16) evening in Cole Harbour and Sunday afternoon in Lantz at the East Hants Sportsplex, the first-place finishers in the regular season downed the Islanders 6-2 and 4-1, respectively.

Sunday’s game was a close, back-and-forth contest in the early going, for the most part, with neither team able to break through on the scoreboard during the first period.

Cape Breton West Major Midget Islanders’ goaltender Kenzie MacPhail and teammate Dylan Chisholm follow the puck as it heads back up-ice following a Cole Harbour Wolfpack scoring opportunity.

An unfortunate bounce for the Islanders led to the Wolfpack’s first goal, as the puck danced unpredictably at the last moment while CBW goaltender Kenzie MacPhail was attempting to set it up behind his net for a teammate. The bounding puck bounced off MacPhail and right to the front of the net where Cole Harbour’s Gavin Watt was the lucky recipient of an empty net tap-in.

CBW forward Lewis Taylor finished off a nice rush with an even nicer shot to pull the Islanders even, but Riley Kidney put the Wolfpack ahead just over a minute later as he converted a slick passing play.

Two power-play goals by the Wolfpack in the third period – off the sticks of Keigan Casey and Brody Fraser – sealed the win for the Wolfpack who now need only one ‘W’ as they head to Port Hood and the Al MacInnis Sports Centre this weekend (March 22-24).

Defenceman Ben MacLellan assisted on Taylor’s goal while MacPhail made 37 stops in the contest.

MacPhail was even busier the night before making 42 saves. Islander captain Darren Waterman assisted on both of his team’s goals which were scored by Matthew Raike and Matthew Ellis.

Veteran defenceman Neil MacLean picked up an assist.

The Islanders’ quest to get back in the series starts Friday night (March 22) with 7 p.m. puck-drop in Port Hood.

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Games four and five in the best-of-five series, if necessary, go Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon, both in Port Hood as well.

The series winner will meet the Halifax McDonald’s who swept their perennial HRM rivals, the Steele Subaru Major Midgets from Dartmouth, in three straight games.