Notebook | From the Chevy Centre

Homestand: The SteelHounds’ final three home games are against the Colorado Eagles (37-17-6, 80 points) today, Friday and Saturday. Game time for each is 7:05 p.m.

Tiebreakers: If the SteelHounds and Rocky Mountain Rage finish tied, the SteelHounds own the tiebreaker because they won the season series, 3-1. The SteelHounds also own the tiebreaker against the Texas Brahmas, 5-4. However, the RiverKings own the tiebreaker with the SteelHounds after winning the season series, 6-5.

Game plan: Five Northern Conference teams are battling for the final four playoff berths. The Eagles can clinch the Northwest Division title and the conference’s second seed with one win over the SteelHounds or a Rocky Mountain Rage loss. The Texas Brahmas’ magic number to clinch third place is four (points they earn in their final three games or the SteelHounds don’t earn). The SteelHounds’ magic number to clinch a playoff berth is four (points earned against the Eagles or not earned by the Rage). “All five teams are so tight — everyone is fighting for their lives,” SteelHounds coach Kevin Kaminski said. “We’ve got to play the same way we did this weekend against Laredo.” Against the Southern Conference-leading Bucks, the SteelHounds won 3-2 and 3-1 before losing the finale, 3-1. “We played very sound defensively,” Kaminski said. “I thought we basically shut down their top line.”

Greasy and gritty: Kaminski is preaching hard hits. “Playing greasy and gritty, that’s basically the stamp on playing ’Hound Hockey,” the SteelHounds’ second-year coach said.

Next: If the SteelHounds finish fourth, they will be on the road almost immediately, busing to Mississippi or flying to Colorado. The playoff dates for the first round are Monday and March 26-27. The fifth-place seed will be home on Monday.

Tom Williams