Roadrunners' magic number 20 for playoff berth; Tucson may get Dylan Guenther, Michael Kesselring back for postseason

The Roadrunners (31-19-3-2) host the Henderson Silver Knights (24-27-2-4) for a two-game set Tuesday and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. while clinging to home ice in the upcoming Calder Cup Playoffs.

“Oh, it’s a big week,” Tucson head coach Steve Potvin told Roadrunners’ communications staff after the team’s loss in Coachella Valley on Saturday night. “Look it, we’ve got some pretty lofty goals here and a big opportunity to seal the playoffs.

“As you know it’s tight as heck and we look forward to that challenge, it’s what we’ve been talking about all season and we’re looking for to the opportunity to compete for it.”

After playing two playoff-level teams last week, the Roadrunners face the eighth-place Silver Knights and the Texas Stars. Though AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Dallas Stars is in third place in the Central Division as of press time, the Roadrunners’ Pacific Division is considered stronger and Tucson swept the Stars in October in the Lone Star State.

Tucson’s magic number (number of points needed to clinch a playoff berth) is 20. That number will decrease with a Roadrunners win (or if they earn a point in overtime or a shootout), and as teams lower than Tucson in the standings lose games.

The Roadrunners are also looking to host playoff games at Tucson Arena for the first time since 2018.

The Roadrunners sit in third place in the Pacific Division with 67 points, one point ahead of Ontario, though the Reign could leapfrog Tucson as soon as Monday night when they host the Calgary Wranglers.

Only five points separate the second-place Colorado Eagles (69 points) and the seventh-place Abbotsford Canucks.

The top seven teams in the Pacific make the playoffs. The first-place team, currently the Coachella Valley Firebirds (78 points) going away after they beat Tucson 7-2 on Saturday, gets a bye in the first round.

Then seeds two, three and four hosts the entire first-round series.

Tucson, a seventh seed, faced Coachella Valley, the second seed, in the first round of last season’s playoffs, with all three games played in Southern California.

The Roadrunners are 4-3-0-1 against Henderson this season, 1-1-0-0 against the Silver Knights at home.

Tucson lost to Coachella Valley this past weekend after giving up four goals in the third period.

“We have to learn from our mistakes,” said Tucson defenseman Patrik Koch. “We have to get it together and get back to winning like we were. We are going to do what we can on Tuesday.”

The Hershey Bears became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2024 playoffs on Sunday. The defending Calder Cup champions have earned 88 points in 57 games and are headed to the postseason for the 71st time, including 15 times in the 17 years since they became the AHL affiliate of the Washington Capitals in 2005.

Once-and-again Roadrunners?

Ahead of the NHL’s roster deadline last Friday, a couple former Roadrunners returned to the Tucson roster, albeit briefly.

Current Arizona Coyotes Dylan Guenther and defenseman Michael Kesselring rejoined the Roadrunners before the deadline on what are often referred to as paper transactions. The reason for the move: Both are now eligible for the playoffs. Both played for the Coyotes in their 4-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Friday.

Guenther is still third on the Roadrunners in points, having collected 28 in 29 games, despite not playing for Tucson since Jan. 3.

Kesselring joined Arizona last March, making his NHL debut a day later. He would play 13 games for Tucson last year and then six this year before getting recalled.

The AHL trade/loan deadline is on Friday.

Busy week for Koch

Not only did Koch make his NHL debut last week, he played in four games in five games in three different cities and two states.

The 27-year-old Slovakian started the week by playing in the Roadrunners’ two-game series against the Calgary Wranglers in Tucson.

Koch made his NHL debut in a 5-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Thursday in Tempe.

“I’m thankful for that opportunity and it was an amazing feeling,” Koch said.

Then he rejoined the Roadrunners and played in their game at Coachella Valley.

In the NHL game, Koch led Arizona defensemen with four hits.

It’s Koch’s second call-up of the season. He was recalled for two hours earlier in the season but didn’t see game action; the Coyotes thought a couple defensemen would be out but they both didn’t miss time.

Series deals

Tuesday’s game features half-priced tickets, while Wednesday’s matchup is Kids Free Night, Monopoly Night and Country Night. Fans under 12 can get in free with a paid adult.

The Roadrunners are offering a Monopoly Night Package that’s two tickets and a Tucson Monopoly game board. The Country Night is presented by 92.9-FM The Bull.

It’s the Roadrunners’ last weeknight games of the regular season.

Shootout losers

If one of Tucson’s games against Henderson goes to a shootout, the Roadrunners should like their chances.

The Silver Knights have a league-worst four shootout losses this season. They are tied with three other teams for that dubious distinction: the Utica Comets, the Grand Rapids Griffins and, curiously, Hershey.