By: Dillon White

After weeks in the Atlantic Division’s basement, the Cape Breton Highlanders are in a playoff position. The Highlanders’ three-game winning streak has vaulted them into fourth place and a game ahead of Moncton with three games remaining this season.

Halifax, Saint John and Prince Edward Island have all secured playoff spots in the conference with Cape Breton and Moncton fighting for the final spot.

Here’s how the standings currently look, with remaining games included:

1. ---

   Y- Halifax Hurricanes 27-11  @ Niagara (13-25) , @Windsor (19-18)
2. Y- Saint John Riptide 22-18  
3. X- Island Storm  16-21  @ London (33-5), @ Windsor (19-18), @ Cape Breton (14-23)
4. Cape Breton Highlanders 14-23 @ Moncton (13-25), vs. Moncton (13-25), vs. PEI (16-21)
5. Moncton Miracles 13-25 @ Cape Breton (14-23), vs. Cape Breton (14-23)

*Y- Current spot clinched  X-Playoff spot clinched

Just four teams make the playoffs from each conference in the NBL of Canada, with a Best-of-Five series in the first round.

Tiebreakers in the NBLC are decided first by the head-to-head record and subsequently by the intra-division record. Cape Breton currently boasts a 3-3 head-to-head record against both Moncton and PEI.

For Cape Breton, their destiny is in their own hands. They could not only secure a playoff spot but also climb the ladder to third place in the conference. It bodes well for the Highlanders that their three remaining games are match-ups with competing teams.

How the Highlanders Can Clinch 

To clinch a playoff spot, Cape Breton needs to win one of their two remaining games against Moncton. Losing both games against Moncton would give the Miracles 15 wins and the upper hand in tiebreakers with the Highlanders.

Cape Breton are riding their longest winning streak of the season into the mini-series with Moncton while the Miracles come in having lost three in a row.

Getting Third Place 

To advance past the Island Storm into third place, things get a bit more tricky.

The Storm have three games remaining, all on the road. To clinch third place, PEI needs to either win two of their remaining games or defeat the Highlanders in the season finale.

For Cape Breton to get the third spot, they’ll need to win some games and get some help. The easiest way for the Highlanders to get the 3-seed is winning all of their remaining games. That would put Cape Breton at 17 wins with the upper-hand in a tiebreaker against the Storm.

However, the Highlanders would need PEI to lose one of their games in Ontario. If the Storm were to lose both games in Ontario, Cape Breton would only need to defeat Moncton once and win over PEI in the finale, rather than winning all of their remaining games.

To the Highlanders encouragement, the Storm could have trouble winning in Ontario. The London Lightning are the best team in the league and the Windsor Express are not far behind. However, with playoff spots clinched, it’s possible both teams could rest star players for the postseason.

The Outlook

If Cape Breton is able to secure either playoff spot, they’ll have a tough time in the first round. Halifax and Saint John have given the Highlanders problems all season.

The Hurricanes went 5-2 against the Highlanders in the regular season and handed Cape Breton a 55-point loss just last week. With championship experience and a great roster, Halifax would be a tough match-up for the Highlanders were they to get the four-seed.

Meanwhile, the Riptide wouldn’t be an easy match-up either. Saint John may have the two best players in the conference with former MVPs Anthony Anderson and Gabe Freeman, who the Highlanders have had trouble slowing down all season. The Riptide also have a strong supporting cast with rim-protector Anthony Stover, low-post threat Chris Commons and sharpshooter Olu Famutimi.

The Highlanders face the Miracles Wednesday at 7 pm in Moncton.