With seven games remaining in the regular season, the Tucson Roadrunners are determined to clinch a playoff bid.
The good news should come sooner rather than later. Tucson is both the favorite to earn the top seed in the American Hockey League’s Pacific Division and post the best record in the entire Western Conference.
Tucson’s magic number, the number of points needed to clinch a playoff berth, stands at seven entering Wednesday.
The number drops by two for every Roadrunners victory and also decreases by two when the team with the highest point total outside of the playoff picture loses.
The top four teams in each division advance to the playoffs.
If fifth-place Stockton were to lose two of its next three games and Tucson were to sweep Iowa, the Roadrunners could clinch a playoff berth as early as Saturday night — when they play their second game at the Iowa Wild.
The Roadrunners could also clinch if Stockton loses all of its next three and Tucson wins just one game in Iowa.
Roadrunners players are downplaying talks of a playoff berth until it becomes a reality.
“Obviously we want to clinch as soon as possible and get a high seed throughout the playoffs,” forward Conor Garland said. “It’s something we know about, but we’re not discussing a whole lot.”
Tucson is coming off a split road trip to California; the team won at Bakersfield before losing to San Jose.
The Roadrunners have been strongest on the road this season, posting a 21-7-2-1 record away from home ice.
“Being on the road, your only focus is hockey,” forward Michael Bunting said. “You’re with your team all the time, so we’re getting closer and closer and we get into the game we’re all ready and prepared for it.”
Tucson call-ups making splashes in NHL
The Arizona Coyotes are making good use of their development team in Tucson.
Ten players have made their NHL debuts with the Coyotes following a recall from Tucson, the most recent being Trevor Murphy. Murphy, who was traded to Tucson last month, scored his first NHL goal Monday night in his debut with Arizona. The Coyotes beat Tampa Bay 4-1.
Roadrunners stalwart Dylan Strome has appeared in the Coyotes’ last four games. He’s contributed two assists and one goal in that frame.
“You always keep tabs on them to see how they’re doing,” Bunting said. “You always hope for the best for them when they go up there.”
