The Pictou County Scotians moved one step closer to avoiding the Antigonish Jr. Bulldogs in the opening round of the Nova Scotia Junior Playoffs with an 8-3 thumping of the Cumberland County Blues in Trenton Thursday night.  Pictou sits in third and is now 14-11-2 with three games remaining in their regular season while the Port Hawkesbury Strait Pirates occupy fourth place with a 13-13-2 record.  The Scotians showed no mercy against the Blues opening a 6-0 first period lead, the Blues rallied somewhat with three of their own in the second but the Scotians scored two more in the third to seal the 8-3 win.  Joseph Mason and Thomas Kennally both scored twice and added an assist for the Scotians while Jack Tompkins scored once and added a pair of assists.  Single markers went to Ryan Frizzle, Cale MacLaughlin and Camden Burgess.  Luke Young picked up 3 assists and Zach Houston added a pair for the winners.  Aiden McBurnie scored a pair for the Blues and Burke Beed added a single marker.  The Scotians outshot the Blues 51-29.