Tick, tick tick, tick tick

You hear that?

The playoffs are coming, the playoffs are coming! Run to the hills, wake the neighbors!

That sense of urgency may seem a bit absurd, and that kind of dedication to the team may be a bit extreme for the average hockey fan.

But for the Lewiston Maineiacs, a sense of urgency is exactly what the doctor ordered.

For those of you reveling in all of this ridiculous weather we’ve been having (you must own stock in Arctic Cat or Sunday River or something), don’t let the snow fool you. Spring is just around the corner.

And so are the playoffs.

Two weeks from today, I’ll be glued to a computer monitor, following the Maineiacs’ final regular-season game from the comfort of my own workspace.

The team will be in Sydney, Nova Scotia, battling Cape Breton for playoff positioning.

As tight as this year’s standings are, there is little doubt that the last game on the schedule will mean much more than it did last year.

And this is the time of year when the players and the coaches need to fall into that playoff mentality, two weeks ahead of schedule.

Because we’re due to press before Saturday’s games are complete, the following references will all deal with points and standings through Friday night’s games.

So, now, beyond the disclaimers, here stands Lewiston. The Maineiacs are in fifth place, one back of fourth, currently held by Acadie-Bathurst. The magic number, though might be four. That’s the number of points the Maineiacs are behind cape Breton for third in the Eastern Division with a game in hand.

We’ve all seen how well the Maineiacs have matched up with Bathurst this season, and the only way to avoid seeing the Titan in the first round is for either team to overtake the Screaming Eagles for third. That could set up a Lewiston vs. Cape Breton series if Bathurst is the team to take third. If Lewiston can pull out third, St. John’s would likely be the Round 1 opponent.

The Maineiacs see them twice later this week.

So what is it going to take?

Here are some best guesses.

With seven games left, the Titan have 73 points. If they win out, they can max out at 87. Acadie-Bathurst plays four road games, including one today in Gatineau and two to finish out the season in Newfoundland. The Titan also play three home games, one each against PEI, Moncton and Halifax.

I don’t think the Titan can win out, but I don’t think they’ll stumble much, either. I would project that the Titan will finish with five more wins, giving them 83 points on the season.

Cape Breton, meanwhile, has six games remaining, though their last four are at home, and two come against Lewiston.

Also, one of those games of which I speak will be in the books by the time you read this.

I predict a 3-3 finish for the Screaming Eagles, giving them 82 for the season.

Now, for Lewiston.

The Maineiacs have seven games left and start with 72 points. In order to catch Cape Breton’s projected 82, Lewiston qould have to win five of its last seven games.

The Maineiacs face Shawinigan today, they host Saint John and St. John’s for three games in the coming week, and then hit the road for three to close out the season, including those last two in Cape Breton.

The Maineiacs, with those home games, have the capability to win, I think, six of their last seven.

The unsettling inconsistencies in their game of late make me doubt them a bit.

But the ability is there.

For argument’s sake, let’s say the Maineiacs win five of the next six. It’s conceiveable that the Maineiacs’ final game of the season could – could – mean the difference between third and fifth place. If Bathurst closes 4-3 to hit 81, and Cape Breton goes 2-3 in its next five to sit at 70, and Lewiston goes 4-2 in its next six to also sit at 70, the winner of that final Cape Breton/Lewiston matchup will get third place. The loser will finish fifth.

I know fans are paying attention at this point. let’s hope the players can find that sense of urgency.