Off the Hook: Week 24 Update

DOWN TO THE WIREOne thing the Steelheads know for sure: they?ve made the playoffs. However, that?s the only thing they know right now. With only two games to go in the season, still unknown is who their first round Kelly Cup playoff opponent will be, where and when. The top eight teams from the National Conference will see postseason action; the top four will have home ice. The two division winners from the Pacific and West Divisions claim first and second seeds. Las Vegas has clinched the Pacific Division and first place in the National Conference making them the top seed. Fresno has solidified second place in the Pacific Division, which guarantees them a third seed in the conference since they can?t be caught by a West Division rival. It?s anybody?s game in the West Division. As of today, Victoria has 87 points, Idaho has 86 and Alaska has 85. Both Victoria and Alaska have a game in hand, and to convolute the situation, they play each other the last three games of the season this week. It could be decided by Friday, but it may come down to the wire on Saturday, the final game of the season, before the Steelheads know if they?ll have home ice and who they?ll play.STEELHEADS AT A GLANCEIdaho Steelheads: 38-22-5-5 (86 pts.), 2nd West Div.; 4th National Conf., Tied 7th ECHLNATIONAL CONFERENCE, DIVISION STANDINGS as of 3/31/08PacificPO Seed Team GP W L OTL PTS PCT1 xy Las Vegas Wranglers 69 45 12 12 102 0.7393 x Fresno Falcons 69 41 20 8 90 0.6527 Bakersfield Condors 69 24 36 9 57 0.4138 Stockton Thunder 68 26 39 3 55 0.404WestPO Seed Team GP W L OTL PTS PCT2 x Victoria Salmon Kings 69 40 22 7 87 0.6304 x Idaho Steelheads 70 38 22 10 86 0.6145 x Alaska Aces 69 40 24 5 85 0.6166 x Utah Grizzlies 68 30 28 10 70 0.515 Phoenix RoadRunners 69 23 37 9 55 0.399x = clinched playoff spotUP NEXTFri. April 4 vs Fresno, Qwest Arena @ 7:10 pmSat. April 5 vs Fresno, Qwest Arena @ 7:10 pm• Saturday is Fire Prevention Night; fans will receive rally rags as they enter the doors, while quantities last.? Team and fan awards will be presented to the players during a pregame ceremony, beginning at 7:00 pm.? Prior to the game Saturday, the Fire Fighters and Boise Police will face off against each other for charity. The annual Guns n? Hoses game for MDA and MADD takes place at 3:00 pm at Qwest Arena. Donations for entry will be accepted at the door.REEL REWIND? Fri. March 28 @ STK: 4-3 W? Sat. March 29 @ FRE: 4-3 SOLSTEELHEADS BITESTeam:? Steelheads are unbeaten in their last five games (4-0-1) for the third time this season, tying a season high? Steelheads finished their road portion of the regular season at 17-16-3, giving them at least a .500 road record in each of their five ECHL seasons (82 total victories away from home)? Five of the Steelheads? last seven games have been decided by one goal (3-1-1) ? Steelheads have at least one power play goal in seven of their last nine contests (8 total PPG)Individual: ? Aaron Gagnon has four points in five games since being reassigned from Iowa (AHL)? Lance Galbraith has at least one point in six of his last seven games (4g-4a)? Mark Bomersback has a goal in two straight gamesFORMER STEELHEADS GOALTENDER DAN ELLIS NAMED ?NHL?S? SECOND STAR OF THE WEEK; SETTING RECORDS WITH NASHVILLECourtesy NHL.com. NEW YORK ? San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton, Nashville Predators goaltender Dan Ellis and Boston Bruins center David Krejci have been named the NHL's 'Three Stars' for the week ending March 30. Ellis posted a 2-0-1 record with a 0.33 goals-against average, a .991 save percentage and two shutouts as the Predators (39-31-9, 87 points) kept their playoff hopes alive with five of a possible six points. In back-to-back starts against the Columbus Blue Jackets he made 36 and 43 saves, recording his fifth and sixth shutouts of the season as the Predators won 3-0, Mar. 25 and 2-0, Mar. 28. He finished the week with a 35-save effort in a 1-0 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Mar. 30. Ellis set a franchise record with a scoreless streak of 233:39 that began Mar. 22 against Chicago and ended with the overtime goal in Detroit. Ellis has appeared in 42 games posting a record of 22-10-3, with a 2.28 goals-against average, a .926 save percentage and six shutouts. BOISE ORTHOPEDIC CENTER INJURY REPORT/TRANSACTIONS (wk ending Mar. 31)3/28 Add Ethan Graham, D assigned from Iowa (AHL)3/28 Add Michael Beynon, D signed contract3/28 Delete Jean-Sebastien Adam, F placed on the 7-day IR3/28 Delete Matt Craig, F transferred to the 30-day IR3/26 Delete Matt Zaba, G placed on the 3-day IR3/24 Delete Chad Brownlee, D released from teamPRACTICE SCHEDULEThe Steelheads will practice at Idaho IceWorld Tuesday and Wednesday this week from 10-11am and at Qwest Arena Thursday through Saturday from 10-11am. Practice is free and open to public and media. For interviews, contact Bonnie @ 472.2119 or email bwaysnider@idahosteelheads.com.BROACAST INFOListen to all 72 games with ECHL?s Broadcaster of the Year Joe O?Donnell calling the action. Joe is joined in the booth this season by current and former Steelheads players who will provide color commentary. Tune in to ESPN Radio 1350 KTIK the Ticket on games nights as well as Monday though Friday at 6:00 pm for the Bud Light Idaho Steelheads Hockey Show as Joe and co-host Will Hoenike talk all things Steelheads. All home and road games can be watched through a link on the Steelheads website provided by B2 Networks for $6 a game.TICKET INFOThe Idaho Steelheads offer a variety of ticket plans to fit any schedule or pocket book. Call (208) 383-0080 to find out more. For day of game tickets, visit idahosteelheads.com and use the print at home feature, or call (208) 331-TIXS or visit the box office at Qwest Arena.- www.idahosteelheads.com -