Pickering Panthers goalie Tanner Sheppard and Cobourg Cougars forward George Krotiris eye the puck during the Panthers’ 4-2 win in Pickering Friday. (Photo by Ray MacAloney / OJHL Images)

The North Division regular season title in the Ontario Junior Hockey League remains solidly up for grabs.

The first-place Markham Royals have a three-point lead on the Newmarket Hurricanes. The Aurora Tigers, who once appeared ensconced in first, are five behind the Canes.

All three have five games remaining. A first-round playoff series between neighbouring Newmarket and Aurora is possible.

The fourth-place Pickering Panthers could be headed to a pre-playoff play-in game with a West Division squad Feb. 24 of 25.

Under the new postseason format approved by OJHL teams last May:

• “If a 5th place team in a division has greater points than the 4th place team in the other division, within the conference, then a one-game sudden victory game is to be played …

• Winner of that game will be the 4th seed in the division of the 4th place team.”

The surging Panthers have 43 points and five games remaining.

In the West, third place Burlington has 53, Brampton 52 and fifth-place Georgetown 49.

NORTH

Markham won three games in four days to extend their winning streak to four games. Matthew Hayami scored twice as the Royals erased a third-period deficit to win 4-2 in Stouffville Thursday. The next night at home, the Oakville native had the only goal in a large 1-0 win over Newmarket, snapping the Canes’ five-game winning streak. Andrew Albano earned his fourth shutout of the season. The Royals defeated Lindsay 9-4 Sunday. Braedyn Aubin and Allesio Luciani, who each had five-point afternoons, have 65 apiece this season, one behind Brandon Yeamans of North York who leads the OJHL. Joseph Mizzi of Aurora, who leads the league with 32 goals, also has 65 points.

Newmarket bounced back from their loss in Markham with two weekend wins. Captain Sheldon Nolan’s two goals led to a 4-2 victory in Aurora Saturday. They won 5-2 over the Jr. Canadiens in Toronto Sunday night. Newmarket rookie goaltender Mitchell Weeks leads the league with a 1.72 GAA. The Sudbury Wolves commit is second in save percentage (.940).

Aurora lost its other two games last week, 4-0 to Whitby Friday and 7-2 to Pickering Tuesday. All three were on home ice. The Tiger are 4-13-2 since Dec. 2.

Pickering has clinched at least a cross-over game after winning their three games last week.

None was larger than their 4-2 home win over nationally ranked Cobourg Friday. Kevin Stiles had two first-period goals. In Aurora Tuesday, Daniel Ebrahim had the hat trick in the 7-2 win. Adam Wheaton assisted four times in the Panthers’ 6-3 win in Brampton Saturday.

The Stouffville Spirit has lost six straight, despite being in every game into the third period. The latest was a last-minute 3-2 loss to the Whitby Fury Sunday In Stouffville. Defenceman Jordan Giacomin had both Spirit goals.

WEST

The Oakville Blades moved up to No. 3 in the national Top 20 despite going .500 on the week. Princeton commit Spencer Kersten scored twice in a 5-2 win over Buffalo Friday. Still at home Saturday, the Blades fell 5-4 to St. Michael’s in double overtime at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex. Harrison Israels netted the hat trick in the loss. Oakville has five games to play before beginning the playoffs against an opponent to be determined from those crowded West standings.

The Jr. Sabres have a near lock on second place, eight points ahead of Burlington, which has five games to play.

Burlington had a rare tie – 2-2 in Georgetown Saturday – before grounding the Brampton Admirals 2-1 in Burlington Sunday.

Georgetown lost its other game, 2-1 in Brantford Sunday. Defenceman Jon Pace scored the winner with 1:45 remaining in regulation.

With files from Alex Bloomfield and Ron Valentine