SteelHounds news

Coming up: The SteelHounds will make a quick two-game trip to Texas and Oklahoma this week, then return home for their longest homestand of the season. Friday, the SteelHounds will be in Odessa to play the Jackalopes, then visit Oklahoma City on Saturday to play the Blazers of the Northwest Division. That game has playoff implications as the Blazers are eight points behind the SteelHounds for the final Northern Conference playoff berth. The SteelHounds will fly home after Saturday’s game.

Eight straight here: The SteelHounds will be home for eight straight games, including five in six days. The long homestand begins on Feb. 5 with a 10:55 a.m. game against the Texas Brahmas. Those teams also play on Feb. 6 at 7:05 p.m. That weekend, the SteelHounds play host to the Mississippi RiverKings for 7:05 p.m. games on Feb. 8-9 and a 4 p.m. game on Feb. 10. The homestand concludes the on Presidents’ Day weekend with three games against the Blazers. Game times are 7:05 p.m. on Feb. 15-16 and 4 p.m. on Feb 17.

Playoff picture: Sunday’s win moves the SteelHounds (48 points) to within a point of the RiverKings for the fourth seed in the Northern Conference. Five teams from each conference qualify for the playoffs. Bossier-Shreveport leads the Northeast Division with 60 points. The Rage and Colorado Eagles are ahead of the RiverKings.

Recovering: SteelHounds defenseman Jeff Alcombrack remains in the intensive care unit at St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center recovering from a concussion he suffered on Friday.

Getting healthy: Forward Jason Baird returned from his 14-day stint on the injured reserve list. Defenseman Milan Maslonka is expected to be taken off that list before Friday.

Tom Williams