The playoffs in the PEI Midget AAA Hockey League are set to begin this week. Here are this year's opening round matchups:

#2 Mid-Isle Robert's Petro Canada Matrix vs. #7 Pownal Gaudet's Auto Body Red Devils

Season series: 4-1 Matrix

On Tuesday night at APM Centre, the Matrix will host game one of their series against the Red Devils at 7:30.

The Matrix finished the season very strong, winning 16 of their last 18 games, including a 14-game winning streak.

"We are looking forward to getting the playoffs started against Pownal," says coach Mike Lord. "We will need to continue getting contributions from all four forward lines and depend on our defence and goaltenders to continue their normally stingy defensive play."

Pownal will turn to leading scorers Harrison Hayden and Logan Toole to lead their offense in the playoffs. Captain Colin MacEachern will be relied on to log plenty of ice time and will lead the team's defense that has improved significantly as a group over the course of the season.

#3 Sherwood Drug Mart Falcons vs. #6 Kings County Kings

Season series: 2-0-3 Falcons

The Falcons will host the Kings on Thursday at 8:20 at Cody Banks Arena to open up what is expected to be a close matchup, after three regular season meetings ended in a tie.  

Sherwood is entering the playoffs on a four-game losing streak, but have not been defeated by the Kings all season. Kings County won their final two games of the season to secure sixth spot.

#5 Charlottetown Brighton Construction Abbies vs. #4 Summerside Hemphill GM Capitals

Season series: 2-0-3 Capitals

"We've had a season where we have faced and dealt with adversity," says Abbies coach, Ryan Ramsay. "We will rely on a strong defensive game from the net out and look for our special teams to win games and series. We are playing our best hockey of the year right now and look forward to making a run at an Island Championship."

The Capitals come in to the playoffs after a busy schedule of makeup games which saw them play six games in the last eight days of the regular season. A tie in their final game of the season earned them home-ice advantage in the first round and they will open up their series at home on Wednesday night at 7:40 at Credit Union Place. They will count on the league scoring champion, Chasse Gallant, to lead the way for the team offensively.

The #1 Western Regals have earned a first-round bye and will rest up while waiting for their second round opponent. The Regals have had a strong season which included a victory at the Spud a couple of weeks ago. "We had a successful regular season which will hopefully carry over into playoffs, we will be watching the three other series closely to find out our matchup in the second round," says coach Brett Corcoran.  They already have a birth into the Atlantic Minor Midget AAA Championships March 27th - 30th as tournament hosts, but will be looking to enter as Island Champions as well.