Girls' hockey: Playoff seeds taking shape in the final week of the regular season

The final week of the high school girls’ hockey regular season is upon us, and a few teams are scrambling for playoff position.

Two of the week’s most closely-watched games will be back-to-back contests Thursday and Friday night between Greely/Gray-New Gloucester and St. Dominic of Auburn. Both teams are 13-2. St. Dom is the two-time defending champion and has dangerous forward Avery Lutrzykowski, a junior who notched her 100th career goal last week.

Thursday’s game is at Family Ice in Falmouth and Friday’s – postponed from Jan. 22 – is at Norway Savings Bank Arena in Auburn. Both begin at 7:10.

Abby Lamontagne of Cheverus/Kennebunk looks down ice as she moves the puck past Zoe Cheever of Portland/Deering during the ninth annual City Cup game at Troubh Ice Arena in Portland earlier this month.

Currently, Lewiston/Monmouth/Oak Hill is ranked first in the North with a 15-2 record, but a sweep by either No. 2 St. Dom or No. 3 Greely could elevate the winner into the top spot.

In the South, Cheverus/Kennebunk (15-1) has wrapped up No. 1 with Portland/Deering (12-5) the likely two seed.

The top two seeds in each region earn a bye. Three plays six and four plays five in playoff rounds that begin next week.

Cheverus may be the state favorite, although the Stags’ one loss was to Portland/Deering (4-3 in overtime). Plus, Cheverus narrowly beat Lewison (4-3 in overtime) and St. Dom (1-0). Cheverus does not play Greely in the regular season.

Lewiston split with St. Dom and swept Greely.

Playoffs begin Feb. 7, with the regional semifinals Feb. 9-10, regional finals Feb. 14 and the state championship Feb. 17. Both regional finals and the state title game will be played at the Colisee in Lewiston.