Entering the back half of the 2018-19 regular season, the Magicians (4-6-0, 3-4-0 WDA) and the Majettes (6-7-0, 4-7-0 N.D. League) have yet to bolster a winning record at any point this season. Yet, both remain on the cusp of having more wins than losses.

The first part of the season could be chalked up as a learning experience, as the Magi only have six seniors on their roster and the Majettes only have one.

Now, a surge in the second half of the season would help the Magi earn a better seed in the West Region Tournament and allow the Majettes to make the state tournament once again.

Here is a breakdown of what has happened up to this point and what’s ahead for both programs.

Alex Eisen/MDN Majettes sophomore Paige Ackerman (9) dekes around a Williston defender in a girls hockey game played earlier this season at Maysa Arena.

Magi: Lacking offense, rotating goalies

It’s hard to win games when averaging 1.7 goals per game. Creating and finishing scoring chances has been the Magi’s downfall. They have yet to have that offensive breakout game and haven’t scored more than three goals in a single game this season.

Minot’s leading goal scorer is sophomore forward Aiden Morelli with five goals, including a game winner against Jamestown on Dec. 15.

Three upperclassmen have also found the back of the net multiple times: junior Payton Philion (two goals, seven assists), senior Mason Diehl (three goals, four assists) and junior Nick Murphy (two goals and two assists).

Defensively, the Magi have allowed 29 goals while flip-flopping who starts between the pipes each night.

Senior goaltender Odin Nelson (1-4-0 record) has faced some of the stiffer competition, racking up a 4.00 goals against average and a 86.6 save percentage. Whereas sophomore Tre’ Sortland (3-2-0 record) has emerged on the scene in his first varsity season. He posted a shutout in his first career start and currently holds a 1.69 goals against average and a 92.4 save percentage.

Minot is coming off back-to-back losses this past weekend at Jamestown (2-1) and at Fargo Davies (6-1). The Magi have yet to string together back-to-back victories.

Majettes: Familiar victims, manageable defeats

Holding the eighth and final spot to reach the state tournament with 12 points, three teams sit below the Majettes in the league standings: Jamestown (nine points), Mandan (six points) and Williston (zero points).

All six of Minot’s victories have come against those three teams and all seven of its defeats have come against teams with better records. So, to put it bluntly, the Majettes know where they currently stand.

That said, the Majettes have challenged and competed with some of the better teams in the state — doing so on the road nonetheless. Minot High has suffered away losses to No. 1 Fargo North/South (7-2), No. 2 West Fargo (4-1), No. 3 Bismarck (4-1), No. 5 Grand Forks (4-3) and, most recently, No. 6 Dickinson (4-0).

All of those results, except maybe the blowout to Fargo North/South, are reasonable enough that the Majettes should feel motivated and confident enough to challenge these teams when they make the return trip up to Minot.

Statistics wise, the junior and sophomore dominated team have been narrowly outscored this season, 38-37.

All of Minot’s eight goal scorers have scored multiple goals, led by junior forward Kaya Shaw with eight goals and five assists. Fellow junior forwards O’Malley Eslinger (six goals, eight assists) and Carson Abrahamson (seven goals, four assists) also have double digits in points.

Sophomores Paige Ackerman and Alyssa Enns have anchored the Majettes’ defense. Sophomore goaltender Amber Borkhuis has played every game, accumulating a 2.85 goals against average and a 89.8 save percentage.

Magi: Home at last, the great outdoors

Minot hasn’t played at Maysa Arena in almost a month with its last home game being on Dec. 15 against Jamestown. On Tuesday, the Magi welcome Bismarck Century (8-1-0, 5-1-0 West Region) to the Magic City. Then, West Region leaders Bismarck High (10-1-0, 7-0-0 West Region) come to town on Thursday.

In Bismarck this season, MHS has already lost at Century once (5-0) and twice at Bismarck High (5-1 and 4-1).

So, a tough couple of games in Minot’s return to Maysa Arena.

After surviving those tests, the Magi will be rewarded with an unforgettable outdoors exhibition game.

They will face Bismarck Century again on Saturday in a non-counter contest at Allen Field in Jamestown. It’s one of a handful of outdoor games being played over the weekend for Hockey Day North Dakota. Puck drop is set for noon.

Majettes: Facing the gauntlet at home

The Majettes powered through a bunch of road trips at the start of the season to be left with seven home games in their final nine regular season games.

While that sounds great, as mentioned before, MHS has to face all the top teams in the state once again. That starts with a pair of winnable home games this weekend against No. 7 Devils Lake (6-8-0, 4-8-0 N.D. League) on Friday and No. 5 Grand Forks Central (6-7-0, 5-5-0 N.D. League) on Saturday.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.