The Nashua Silver Knights bullpen got a third straigh night off as Wednesday's scheduled game with Westfield at Holman Stadium was rained out. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

NASHUA — It looks like it’s over for the Nashua Silver Knights this season as far as the playoffs are concerned.

Nashua (24-29) was rained out on Wednesday night, but that mattered little. New Britain beat Norwich to move to 28-22 on the season, and the Bees are assured of an above .500 record with just five games left.

But the dagger to the Knights’ playoff hearts belonged to the Vermont Lake Monsters, who went into last night’s game vs. Worcester at 28-23, and rallied to beat the Bravehearts 9-8 in a rain-delayed first game of what was a scheduled doubleheader in rain-soaked Burlington. They, too are assured of a winning record, and the best Nashua could do is .500. Norwich and Westfield are already in the playoffs.

It’s the first time the Silver Knights in their 14 year history have missed the playoffs two straight years.

TOUGH CALL ON RAINOUT

Yesterday’s rainout was a tough call. The tarp was on the Holman Stadium infield the first half of Wednesday, and just like the topsy-turvy weather, it came off in the early afternoon.

But that was just before a brief downpour, Silver Knights general manager Cam Cook said, that left the field in tough shape.

“For the first time I looked out and saw the field almost underwater,” Cook said.

That and the threat of more rain in the evening, and with the scheduled opponent, Westfield needing to know before hitting the Mass. Pike, led the Silver Knights to rain out last night’s game at Holman. Fans can exchange those tickets for tickets for tonight or Friday.

It’s highly unlikey the game will be made up, as it won’t be needed for any playoff scenario.

Nashua has now had three days off, and will host the Road Warriors tonight at Holman.

Cook said there will be a general managers conference call today, but now after last night’s results, it’s unlikely any extra games for Monday will be discussed.

It’s tough. The Knights’ final home game of the season is vs. New Britain on Friday night, and Nashua’s best hope yesterday was that Vermont would stumbe stumble since the teams play in Burlington Saturday and Sunday to end the regular season. Even if Vermont were to finish at .500, Nashua loses the season series, 7-1 at this moment.

One hope might have been that Nashua could win a three-way tiebreaker if Vermont, Worcester and the Knights all finished .500. But Nashua also lost a season series 6-4 to the Bravehearts.

The frustrating thing is had the Silver Knights beaten the Road Warriors and Brockton Rox all four times they met last week — they won just once over Brockton — they’d be much more in the mix.

“If we had just taken care of business, we’d be three out (of a playoff spot),” Cook said.

Instead, unofficially they’re out, period.