The Queenstown side have the chance to book their spot as hosts for the New Zealand Ice Hockey League grand final.
It would be a luxury for the in-form Stampede, gaining home ice advantage to defend the Birgel Cup and earning a week off from the semifinals.
The defending champions have been impressive, securing a place in the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.
But first they need to beat the Canterbury Red Devils in their double-header getting under way in Queenstown tonight.
They lost their first game to the Red Devils 6-2 on June 24, but followed up the next night with a 5-4 win in Christchurch.
There is plenty riding on the outcome too.
The Stampede (32 points) sit below the Botany Swarm (37) — whose regular season has wrapped up — but can overtake the East Auckland team.
If the Stampede win both games in regulation time, they finish on 38 points and advance to the final, leaving the Swarm to play the West Auckland Admirals in the semifinal.
They can still advance if they win one in regulation time and the other in overtime, due to the Stampede advancing on the tiebreaker rule.
However, if they win one and lose the other, the Swarm will secure their final spot, leaving the Stampede to play the Admirals in the semifinal.
They are packed with class to help them get there.
Brendan Walkom is second in the league’s scoring leaders and only one point behind the Swarm’s Petr Stepanek.
Walkom has racked up 37 points in 14 games, with 19 goals and 18 assists.
