SteelHounds prepare for heavy dose of Thunder

The two Central Hockey League teams will play four times in six days.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown SteelHounds play host to the Wichita Thunder this weekend in an important Central Hockey League series at the Chevrolet Centre.
Nineteen games remain in the regular season for the SteelHounds (21-16-8), who are fifth in the Northern Conference standings. Wichita (20-19-6) sits in the sixth and holds the conference's final playoff spot.
These teams play four times in the next six days, starting with games tonight, Saturday and Sunday at the Chevrolet Centre.
Games tonight and Saturday are scheduled to begin at 7:05 p.m., with Sunday's game scheduled for a 4:05 p.m. start.
The teams then play in Wichita on Wednesday.
The SteelHounds come into the weekend still shorthanded but a little better than last weekend against Bossier-Shreveport when they were down to 11 skaters.
On the mend
Youngstown defensemen Josh Reed has been activated from the 45-day injured reserve list, and Dallas Anderson returns to the lineup after a two-game suspension.
Center John Wheaton and forward Garrett Larson -- who remains on the 14-day injured reserve list with an upper body injury -- are still out.
Youngstown's Jeff Christian was named the Oakley CHL player of the week for the second time in a row and third time this season.
Christian leads the league in assists (60) and points (87) and is the only man to win back-to-back player of the week honors.
Goaltender David Currie has been solid since returning from injury last week. Currie came in for Brad Roberts early in the second period last Thursday night against Bossier-Shreveport and allowed only one goal on 15 shots in the SteelHounds' 5-3 loss.
Last Friday, Currie made 25 saves in Youngstown's 5-3 win over the Mudbugs.