Playoff chances improved

A new change in the CHL's playoff format will aid the Youngstown SteelHounds.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
YOUNGSTOWN -- A change in the Central Hockey League's playoff format has increased the Youngstown SteelHounds' chances of qualifying for the postseason in their second year.
Last year, the CHL took four teams from each conference -- the two division winners plus the two teams with the next best records.
Two best-of-seven series followed, with the conference champions meeting in the CHL finals.
This year, another round of playoffs has been added and the new format allows four more CHL teams to play beyond the end of the regular season.
Now, six teams from each conference will qualify for the first round that begins in late March.
This year, the division winners -- Northeast and Northwest in the Northern Conference and Southwest and Southeast in the Southern Conference -- will receive the top two seeds in each conference.
The next four teams will qualify as wild cards, being seeded by records.
Best-of-seven series
Then the fun begins with an unusual best-of-seven series. The lowest qualifying team will face the division winner with the best record. The other division winner will play the conference's fifth seed while the third- and fourth-place teams will meet in the other series.
Normally, hockey teams' seasons end when they lose a playoff round. Not this year.
Bob Hoffman, SteelHounds assistant general manager, says one of the three first-round losers will be granted a second chance in the next round (the CHL quarterfinals).
The highest seeded team that loses in the first round will advance to the next round (four teams are needed for balance).
Because of that twist, the race to finish no lower than fourth in the conference is important. That's because if the top three teams advance as expected, the fourth-place team will join them in the league quarterfinals.
Fourth is no guarantee
Fourth place does not guarantee two playoff rounds. If the fifth- or six-place seed upsets a division winner, the division winner would earn the "do-over." In that scenario, the fourth-place team would only advance if it wins its first series.
The SteelHounds (16-13-7, 39 points) trail Bossier-Shreveport (20-10-5, 45 points) in the race for third place in the Northern Conference. Also in the hunt is Oklahoma City with 38 points.
Finishing fourth this winter could bring two playoff series to the Chevrolet Centre.
williams@vindy.com