Lakeland Eagles of McLennan finished first in the North Peace Hockey League standings for the playoffs which started this week. While the Falher Pirates and Valleyview Jets squared off in Falher last Friday, the winner clinched the final berth to face the high-flying Eagles. Lakeland was scheduled to host the opening game Tuesday (Feb. 19) in the best-of-five series. Following games are scheduled in Falher or Valleyview on Thursday with game three in McLennan on Saturday. The official schedule was expected to be announced earlier this week. McLennan swept Falher in a two-game home-and-home series Feb. 8 and 9 although the games were closer than games earlier in the season. The Eagles doubled the Pirates 6-3 in McLennan at H. W. Fish Arena on Feb. 9 after hanging on for a 7-5 win at Falher Regional Recreation Complex the night before. Daniel Aubin scored a pair of goals while Michel Maisonneuve added a single for the Pirates in McLennan. Junior Anderson scored two goals for the Eagles, while other goals were tallied by Shawn Brekker, Craig Vande Ligt, Jeff Filewich, and Matt Hunter. Bouchard scores four goals in Falher Jason Bouchard netted four goals in Falher while Deric Meunier scored the other goal in a very entertaining game with the Pirate scrambling for the equalizer late in the game. Also scoring big on the scoresheet were Daniel Aubin and Denis Rochon who each tallied four assists. Lindsay and Hunter each scored twice for the Eagles while Kelly Cunningham, James Tallman, and Filewich added singles for the Eagles who led 5-2 after the first period and 6-4 after two periods. Both goaltenders – Rod Branch of the Eagles and Leslie Montpellier of the Pirates were solid in the nets to keep the score low. A short-handed Lakeland team doubled Huskies 6-3 in Grimshaw on Feb. 13. Todd Holt and Matt Hunter each netted a pair for the Eagles who suited just 11 players. Dustin Kersey and Travis Cunningham also scored for Lakeland who outshot the Huskies 39-28 and Lakeland goalie Branch was solid in net. Winding up the regular season, the Pirates hosted Valleyview Jets last Friday while the Eagles hosted Grimshaw Huskies last Saturday.