The regular season was a battle of attrition, but Roanoke’s late-season surge—highlighted by a sweep of Peoria—proves this team is peaking at the exact right moment. We finished the year with 69 points, narrowly edging out Evansville for the third spot, while Birmingham secured the No. 6 seed.
While the seeding favors the Dawgs, the season series tells a story of razor-thin margins. From overtime heartbreakers in December to high-scoring affairs in March, these two teams have been inseparable on the scoreboard.
Round 1 Schedule
- Game 1: @ Birmingham – Thursday, April 9, 8:00 P.M.
- Game 2: @ ROANOKE – Saturday, April 11, 7:05 P.M.
- Game 3: @ ROANOKE – Sunday, April 12, 7:05 P.M. (if necessary)
Keys to the Series: A Fan’s Perspective
1. Contain the “Glover Factor”
Birmingham’s Drake Glover has been a thorn in our side all year. In our March matchups alone, he was a scoring machine, often finding the back of the net on the power play. Our defensive pairings, led by the veteran presence of Matt O’Dea, must prioritize gap control when Glover is on the ice. We cannot afford to give him space in the high slot.
2. Unleash the Broughman-Widmar Connection
Travis Broughman and Joe Widmar have been the heartbeat of the Dawgs’ offense. Broughman enters the playoffs with 53 points, and his ability to produce in 2026 has been nothing short of elite. When these two are clicking, Roanoke is nearly impossible to stop. We need our top line to set the tone early in Game 1 to steal home-ice momentum.
3. The “Brick Wall” Roudebush
Playoffs are won and lost in the crease. Austyn Roudebush finished the season among the league leaders with a .923 save percentage and a 2.33 GAA. In a short 3-game series, one “stolen” game by Roudy could be the difference. He has the playoff experience and the calm demeanor to outshine Birmingham’s rotation.
4. Special Teams Discipline
In our recent 6-5 win against the Bulls, both teams traded power-play goals like haymakers. Birmingham’s power play is lethal, but their penalty minute totals are often high. The Dawgs need to stay out of the box and capitalize on the man advantage. If we can win the special teams battle, we win the series.
5. Protect the Star City
We worked hard to get that No. 3 seed for a reason: Home Ice Advantage. If this series goes to a deciding Game 3, it happens right here in Roanoke on April 12th. The “Dawg House” needs to be the loudest it’s ever been. There is no atmosphere in the SPHL quite like a playoff night at the Berglund Center.
Final Prediction: The Dawgs’ depth and goaltending will be too much for the Bulls to handle over three games.
Dawgs in 3. Let’s go get that cup!