SteelHounds are fighting for another playoff berth

By Tom Williams

The SteelHounds’ main obstacle is the Colorado Eagles who come in for three games starting tonight.

YOUNGSTOWN — Standing in the way of the SteelHounds’ second consecutive playoff berth is a Colorado obstacle that looms almost as large as a landmark from its Rocky Mountain State.

With three games to play, the SteelHounds (36-20-5, 77 points) find themselves in a real dogfight for the final playoff berths for the Central Hockey League’s Northern Conference. Their opponent? The defending champion Colorado Eagles (37-18-6, 80 points).

“Colorado is the premier team in the league and they have been for the last few years,” SteelHounds captain Chris Richards said after Tuesday’s practice. “To beat them, we have to play them physical. And we can’t turn over the puck; we need to get the puck deep on them.”

Colorado comes to town for games tonight, Friday and Saturday at 7:05 at the Chevrolet Centre needing two points to win the Northwest Division. The Eagles have a five-point lead on the Rocky Mountain Rage, the sixth-place team in the Northern Conference.

This year’s playoff format sees five teams qualifying from each conference. The top three teams (two division winners plus the next best team) receive a first-round bye. The fourth- and fifth-place teams will play a best-of-three series beginning Monday.

The winner will advance to play the top seed (Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs) in a best-of-seven series. Seeds two and three also will play in a best-of-seven series.

The SteelHounds are fourth in the conference, three points behind the red-hot Texas Brahmas (22-3-1 in their past 26 games), one point ahead of the Mississippi RiverKings and two points ahead of the Rage.

Last season, the Eagles and SteelHounds played three of the most exciting games ever at the Chevrolet Centre. In late March, the SteelHounds dropped two one-goal decisions to the Eagles, then rebounded for a 3-2 win in the series finale. Late in that game, Richards stole the puck at the Colorado blue line then scored the winning goal.

Two weeks later, the Eagles and SteelHounds met in a best-of-seven first-round playoff series. After losing the first three games, the SteelHounds rebounded with a 3-2 win in Game 4 and a 6-3 victory in Game 5.

In the latter game, Richards, a 2007 CHL MVP candidate, set up five goals and scored the other.

After winning Game 6, the Eagles went on to win the Presidents Cups with victories over Oklahoma City, Memphis (RiverKings) and Laredo.

“They’re made up of almost the same [lineup],” Richards said. “Their record doesn’t speak as well as last year but they are built to win and they know how to win.

“This is the time of year where a team like that can be very dangerous so we are going to have to play our best.”

Richards is one of six SteelHounds from last year’s team still on the roster. That list includes two injured players (defenseman Jeff Alcombrack, goalie Brad Roberts). The others are forwards Brad Patterson and Mark Odut, and defenseman Milan Maslonka.

Glancing at the lineup sheet from the March 8 at Colorado where the SteelHounds lost in a shootout, Coach Kevin Kaminski estimated that 14 of the Eagles that night were with the championship squad a year ago.

“We played a heckuva game the last time we went in there,” Kaminski said.

Late in that third period, Eric Przepiorka scored to force overtime and the shootout.

“They are very similar,” said Odut, the SteelHounds’ third line center. “They have a lot of their key players, which they do every year.

“It’s tough playing them. They are a physical team but they’ve got skill and good defense,” Odut said.

The difference is in goal. Eagles workhouse Sebastien Laplante (21-16-1) and Bryan Bridges (8-5-2) weren’t on the 2007 squad.

Neither was Andy Franck (23-10-4) a SteelHound. The Lakewood native is a CHL candidate for Goaltender of the Year.

Leading the Eagles’ offense are Riley Nelson (34 goals, 52 assists, 86 points) and Ed McGrane (33-52-85). Both are in the CHL’s top six for scoring.

Greg Pankewicz (73 points) is tied with Richards for 14th. Eagles left winger Seth Leonard is 17th with 68 points.

“They definitely have a potent offense,” Kaminski said. “We’ve got to get ready to go through the wall for each other.”

Next for the SteelHounds are Przepiorka (66 points, tied for 20th) and Petr Pohl (65 points, 23rd).

williams@vindy.com