Notebook: From the Chevy Centre

Homestand: The Bucks and SteelHounds conclude their three-game series today at 4:05 p.m. The SteelHounds’ final three home games will be against the Colorado Eagles (37-17-6, 80 points) on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Game time for each is 7:05 p.m.

Playoff chase: The Northern Conference playoff race is as tight as ever, with six teams contending for five postseason berths. The Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs (42-13-5, 89 points) are Northeast Division champions and have clinched home-ice advantage for the Northern bracket. Before Saturday’s games, the Eagles led the Northwest Division, five points ahead of the Rocky Mountain Rage (35-19-5, 75 points). In the Northeast, the SteelHounds (36-19-5, 77 points) trail the Texas Brahmas (38-20-3, 79 points) but are three ahead of the Mississippi RiverKings (35-21-4, 74 points).

Remaining games: The SteelHounds’ remaining schedule (four games against division leaders) is the toughest for the contending teams. The Rage finish with two games against the Tulsa Oilers (22-33-4, 48 points) and one each with the Mudbugs and Arizona Sundogs (34-19-6, 74 points, Southwest Division leaders). The Brahmas close with the Oklahoma City Blazers (26-28-6, 58 points), the Wichita Thunder (18-29-2, 38 points), the Mudbugs and Austin Ice Bats ((26-32-2, 54 points). The RiverKings close with a game each against the Mudbugs and Blazers, and two against the Corpus Christi Rays (21-31-7, 49 points).

Tiebreaker: If the SteelHounds and Rage finish tied, the SteelHounds own the tiebreaker because they won three of the four games they played this season.

Streaks: SteelHounds forward Joel Irving scored a goal to extend his scoring streak to eight games. Chris Richards’ seven-game streak was snapped.

Tom Williams