Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Bless the Maritimes Division

The Maritimes Division is pretty weird this season - and it's awesome.

Just seven points separate the top team in the division and the fifth-place squad. Three teams have all spent time at the top - the Moncton Wildcats, Halifax Mooseheads and now the Acadie-Bathurst Titan.

The Titan are 7-3 in their past 10 games and have taken over top spot with a one-point lead on the Mooseheads. The Mooseheads and Wildcats have been struggling a bit over the past few weeks - particularly the Wildcats - which has allowed Bathurst to climb to the top.

Following a 2-1 loss in Saint John on Sunday, Moncton has lost five straight and are just 2-7-0-1 in their past 10 games, placing them just two games over the .500 mark after a terrific start.

The best story in the QMJHL remains the Charlottetown Islanders, who are incredibly 15-9-1-0, placing them third in the Maritimes and eighth overall. The Isles are in year zero - or perhaps even minus-one - of a rebuild following last season's run and were projected to have a season similar to Moncton's a year ago. But they are somehow 8-2 over their past 10 games and have been one of the league's hottest teams over the past month.
While the Saint John Sea Dogs remain in the division basement, they are now only eight points back of fifth-place. Given how teams in the Maritimes seem to stay hot or stay cold for periods of time, the Dogs could gradually make their way up if they can regularly win some games.

While the Division may not be stacked like in year's past or have a championship favourite, this is entertaining stuff. We all love comebacks and lead changes, and the Maritimes Division standings could offer a full season of those things.

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