A pair of longtime rivals will square off this weekend in 91大黄鸭 in the opening of the playoffs.

The will take on the Vancouver North West Giants in a best-of-three quarterfinal series beginning Friday night at the Capital News Centre. Face off is 6:30 p.m.

Game 2 goes Saturday at 3 p.m., with a third game, if needed on Sunday at 10 a.m. at CNC.

The Rockets (21-13-3-3) finished fourth during the MML regular season, four points ahead of the fifth-place Giants (20-16-2-2).

The clubs split four meetings during the 2017-18 regular season. Vancouver won 6-4 and 5-1 in 91大黄鸭 in October, before the Rockets returned the favour with 5-2 and 4-3 victories in January in North Vancouver.

鈥淭he Giants are an older team that are very well-coached,鈥� said Rockets coach Eric Blais. 鈥淭hey will be a very tough opponent.鈥�

The Rockets played well down the stretch, closing out the regular campaign with three of a possible four points against the second-place Cariboo Cougars.

鈥淚 really like the way our team played this past weekend,鈥� Blais added. 鈥淲e have been playing fairly well of late. As long as we execute and stay disciplined it should be exciting hockey to watch.鈥�

Jack Finley had a goal and an assist in a 4-1 win Saturday afternoon at CNC. Cole Schwebius picked up the win in goal.

On Sunday, Cariboo won 6-5 in overtime. Captain Mitchell Gove led the Rockets in the loss with two goals and an assist, while Brendan Boyle and Ben King had two points each.

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