The Indianapolis Ice have officially qualified for the 2003-2004 Ray Miron President’s Cup Playoffs following a dramatic 1-0 victory in Memphis Saturday evening. Goaltender Jeff Sanger was brilliant in recording 40 saves and his sixth shutout of the season in the win. All-Star Most Valuable Player Jason Baird provided all the scoring the Ice would need, scoring his 27th goal of the season late in the first period. From there, Sanger and the defense remained solid, and also killed off a two man disadvantage for 1:29 in the third period. The win gives Indianapolis 76 points and a playoff berth. While Memphis could still tie Indy with a win Sunday versus Tulsa and an Indy loss at home to Colorado, Indianapolis would win a tiebreaker based on their head to head record with the RiverKings. In Saturday’s other key game with major playoff implications, the Wichita Thunder earned a 3-1 win in Bossier-Shreveport behind a three-goal third period rally. Darryl Green connected twice on the power play to move the Thunder to 75 points, one behind the Ice and one ahead of Memphis. The Thunder control their playoff destiny, and with a home win Sunday versus Amarillo, will qualify for the post-season.

The Bossier-Shreveport loss means idle Colorado will open the post-season as the top seed in the Northern Conference, with the Mudbugs relegated to the second slot. Bossier-Shreveport could still tie Colorado at 90 points with a win Sunday versus Rio Grande Valley and a Colorado loss in Indianapolis, but the Eagles would claim the top seed based on the first tiebreaker, most wins.

Sunday’s Northern Conference Playoff Scenarios.

Indianapolis has clinched a playoff berth, and with a single point Sunday at home against Colorado can earn the Northern Conference’s third seeding and a guaranteed first round meeting with Bossier-Shreveport. If Indianapolis loses in regulation, and Wichita wins, Indianapolis would fall to the fourth seeding and would play Colorado in the opening round. A Wichita loss in regulation, overtime or a shootout would also guarantee Indianapolis the third seeding.

Wichita can earn a post-season berth with a home win Sunday against Amarillo, and would be the Northern Conference’s third seed if Indianapolis loses in regulation at home to Colorado. A Wichita win coupled with a single point earned by Indianapolis would make the Thunder the fourth seed. If the Thunder earn a single point by losing in regulation or a shotoout, they risk being eliminated with a Memphis home win over Tulsa on Sunday.

Memphis, the two-time defending Ray Miron President’s Cup Champions, need help to qualify for the post-season. The Indianapolis game Sunday means nothing to Memphis, who can only qualify as the fourth seed due to losing the head to head tiebreaker with the Ice. Memphis can qualify by beating Tulsa on Sunday, and having Wichita lose to Amarillo in regulation, overtime or in the shootout. If both Memphis and Wichita tie with 76 points, Memphis would win the first tiebreaker, most wins. If Memphis earns a single point through an overtime or shootout loss, and Wichita loses in regulation, they would have exactly the same records and Wichita would qualify based on a better head to head record.