Three teams are officially into the NCDC Playoffs, when they kick off in mid-March. 

The Jersey Hitmen, with their Thursday win against the Boston Junior Bruins, clinched the first seed overall and will maintain home ice for as long as they remain in the playoffs. 

The Junior Bruins, despite that close 3-2 loss, clinched a playoff berth on Thursday as well, due to losses in the ranks below. After Saturday’s 2-1 overtime win over the Rockets, the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs also clinched a playoff berth. 

Second place is still up for grabs, as are mostly every spot below that - no teams aside of the Hitmen are fully locked into a seed. 

Hitmen keep rolling, rolling, rolling 

When you can say that your team has lost just once since October, you know things are going well. The Hitmen are on an 8-0 winning streak going back to Jan. 27, after defeating the Junior Bruins (as aforementioned), the Boston Bandits (4-2) and the Islanders Hockey Club (4-1).

The Hitmen have authored two of the longest pure winning streaks this season. They won 19 in a row between Oct. 29 and Jan. 20, the Junior Bruins won 11 in a row earlier this year and the Hitmen have now won eight in a row. 

The Hitmen are one win away from 40 and one goal away from 200 scored on the season. The Hitmen have also doubled up in goals differential on the second place team in that category, the Junior Bruins, 112-56. 

Philip Elgstam continues his scoring streak into next weekend, standing at 19 games with 30 points over that time.