The Alaska Aces are barely into the second half of the ECHL regular season, yet given their tenuous perch – sixth place in the seven-team Pacific Division – they need to start making up ground to secure a playoff spot.
With 34 hockey games remaining, starting with a three-game home series against division co-leader Colorado beginning Wednesday night, the Aces sit nine points out of a playoff spot and will have to surge past two clubs. The top four finishers in the division qualify for the Kelly Cup playoffs.
Entering Tuesday, fourth-place Utah owned a nine-point lead on the Aces and fifth-place Bakersfield owned a six-point lead on them. The Aces have four games in hand on both Utah and Bakersfield, but only face those teams a combined nine times the rest of the way, and six of those games are on the road.
The Aces are 5-11-1 on the road, which ranks them sixth among the seven Pacific teams in that regard. And 19 of their remaining 34 games are roadies.
All of that makes the six remaining games in this homestand – three against Colorado and three against division basement-dwelling Stockton – especially critical for an Alaska franchise that has never failed to qualify for the playoffs in 11 ECHL seasons. The Aces last week went 1-1-1 in three home games against current division co-leader Idaho.
Compounding the Aces' situation is a spate of injuries. Defenseman Corey Syvret remains out, as does Colten Hayes, although coach Rob Murray said Hayes may be able to play Wednesday. Centers Tim Coffman and Ryan Tesink and winger Justin Johnson are shelved too. And scoring defenseman Brad Richard remains on promotion to the American Hockey League.
Colorado comes to town blistering hot. The Eagles arrived Monday night in possession of a 10-game winning streak – five at home and five on the road – that is the longest on the 28-team circuit this season.
Reach Doyle Woody at dwoody@alaskadispatch.com, check out his blog at adn.com/hockey-blog and follow him on Twitter at @JaromirBlagr
Colorado Eagles (28-13-0) at Alaska Aces (16-18-4)
Wednesday, Sullivan Arena, 7:15 p.m.
Radio: Live AM-750 and FM 103.7 KFQD