NEW ULM — After going 2-1 this past weekend with wins over second place Alexandria and third place Mason City, the New Ulm Steel are gearing up for a big weekend series with Willmar — a team currently sitting one point ahead of them for the final playoff spot in the West Division.

Friday night, the Steel, 11-17-3, travel to Willmar (13-15-1) before hosting the WarHawks Saturday night at 7:10 p.m. at the New Ulm Civic Center.

“The wins against the second and third place teams is good,” Steel head coach Alex North said. “And for two periods against Granite City (an 8-0 loss where New Ulm gave up five third period goals) we played pretty well against the best team in our league. But we responded with a (road) win 4-3 road win. And in both wins (a 5-4 win Friday) we came back. That has been our identity all year — we do not quit.”

North said this weekend’s games have become even more important now.

“With the two wins this [past] weekend, that put us back to within a point so these games this weekend just became more important,” he said. “It seems that Willmar has become our rival. We have two similar style teams — I think that some of our kids know each other so there is a healthy rivalry there too.”

North said that right now and for the rest of the season, the Steel are in a position where they cannot give up any potential points.

“I have been telling the players that since the Showcase that every game is playoff hockey the rest of the season and that is the mentality we have to have,” North said. “We have to win and each game is the most important game of the year for us.”

North said that as of Tuesday, they are still expecting Vladislav Ostapenko back from Russia on or around Jan. 16.

Saturday night is “$2 Dollar Beer Night” with Darryl & Darrel in attendance.

There are volunteers needed for Saturday nights game as a goal judge, ticket taker, merchandise table and the penalty box.

If interested, you can contact Karen Haala at 507-276-2063.