Jordan Eberle scored his 10th and 11th goals of the season, his second straight two-goal game. Taylor Hall added three assists and Justin Schultz scored his 10th goal and added two assists.

Outshooting the Checkers 47-25, Oklahoma City (11-5-2) has won five consecutive games, including the first three games on a seven-game road trip that continues Thursday and Friday at Houston.

The Barons have collected 13 of 14 possible points their past seven games, including a two-game series sweep against Charlotte to move to within two points of the Checkers, who lead the South division. The only loss during a 6-0-1 streak was in overtime.

Oklahoma City scored three goals in the first period and added three more in the second period. Anton Lander and Chris VandeVelde scored their first goals of the season, VandeVelde’s a short-handed goal.

Schultz’s goal was 22 seconds after Dane Byers scored midway through the second period. Teemu Hartikainen scored his sixth goal of the season and Magnus Paajarvi chipped in two assists.

Featuring three of the American Hockey League’s top four scorers, the Barons have scored 29 goals the past six games.

Schultz leads the AHL in scoring with 28 points, including 18 assists. Eberle has 26 points.

In Oklahoma City’s preseason opener Friday night, a 4-0 win over Houston, the Finland native contributed two assists on power play goals in the second period.

When the NHL lockout ends Hartikainen is one of the top candidates to join the Oilers.

“I know exactly what the coaches need me to do and I have to do it if I’m going to play in the NHL,” Hartikainen said. “I know my role is to be a playmaker… I know what I have to do.”

While the American Hockey League is still waiting to announce its schedule for 2011-12, the Barons did announce the breakdown of teams they will play in the upcoming season.

The most notable changes from last season include the addition of Charlotte (8 games) and Rochester (4 games) to the Barons schedule, cutting back on the number of games against Chicago (2) and additional games against new division rival Abbotsford (8 games).

All of the Barons’ 76 games will be played within the Western Conference with 34 of those games coming inside the West Division.

Here’s the breakdown (all series evenly split between home and road):

Abbotsford: 8

Charlotte: 8

Chicago: 2

Grand Rapids: 8

Hamilton: 2

Houston: 8

Lake Erie: 4

Milwaukee: 4

Peoria: 4

Rochester: 4

Rockford: 4

San Antonio: 8

Texas: 10

Toronto: 2

The American Hockey League announced a new divisional alignment Tuesday as its annual Board of Governors meetings continued in Hilton Head, S.C. The Oklahoma City Barons remain in the West Division with Houston, San Antonio, Texas and Abbotsford. The realignment was necessitated by Winnipeg’s return to the NHL and the city’s AHL team–and new Jets affiliate–moving to St. John’s, Newfoundland. The conferences were divided into six five-team divisions in the new alignment. St. John’s will move to the Eastern Conference’s Atlantic Division while Charlotte moved to the Western Conference and the Midwest Division. The playoff formats also needed to be adjusted. The division winners will earn the top three seeds in each conference while the next five teams will earn the fourth-eighth seeds. After the first round of playoffs, which will be a best-of-five, the brackets will be reseeded so that the highest remaining seed will play the lowest in each conference. All subsequent rounds of playoffs remain best-of-seven.

The scheduling format hasn’t been approved or announced yet but it’s likely the Barons will play each team in the conference. The schedule will be released later this summer.

WESTERN CONFERENCE
North Division
Grand Rapids
Hamilton
Lake Erie
Rochester
Toronto

Midwest Division
Charlotte
Chicago
Milwaukee
Peoria
Rockford

West Division
Abbotsford
Houston
Oklahoma City
San Antonio
Texas

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic Division
Manchester
Portland
Providence
St. John’s
Worcester

Northeast Division
Adirondack
Albany
Bridgeport
Connecticut
Springfield

East Division
Binghamton
Hershey
Norfolk
Syracuse
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton

Alex Giroux will make the decision on where to sign later today.

“I’m not chasing money,” Giroux said. “I’m still chasing the dream to play in the NHL.”

Giroux said he has “four or five” offers to consider, including a return to the Edmonton Oilers organization or playing in Europe. Giroux scored 78 points (32 goals, 46 assists) in 70 games with the Barons last season. He also had a goal and an assist in eight games with the Oilers.

“The money’s better if I go to Europe,” Giroux said. “I could make two or three times the money playing over there but I still think I can play in the NHL. I thought I did a good job when I was up there last year.”

Giroux, who just turned 30, said he didn’t hear from the Oilers until Friday night.

“I was sort of surprised when they called because I hadn’t heard from them before when they had my rights,” Giroux said. “I know they signed a few players yesterday. It’s a different situation there this year. Last year, they were in rebuilding mode. This year, it’s different. I could go there and get a chance later in the year but I’d rather go somewhere where I could get a chance right off the bat if the situation is right.”

Giroux said he’s spent much of the last two days studying teams’ depth charts to see where the best fit would be.

Giroux has 340 goals in 706 AHL games over 10 seasons. He’s scored five goals in 39 NHL games.

He also said he was happy for former teammate and linemate Colin McDonald, who signed a two-way deal Friday with Pittsburgh.

“He definitely deserves it,” Giroux said. “That’s great for him.”

Now that the Barons playoff fate has been decided, here’s a look at their first-round playoff series vs. Hamilton. All times are Central. Tickets for the Barons home games go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday through Ticketmaster, the Cox Center or by phone at 232-GOAL (4625).

Game 1: Thursday at Hamilton, 6:30 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday at Hamilton, 3 p.m.
Game 3: April 19 at Oklahoma City, 7:05 p.m.
Game 4: April 20 at Oklahoma City, 7:05 p.m.
Game 5: April 22 at Oklahoma City, 7:05 p.m.*
Game 6: April 24 at Hamilton, 3 pm.*
Game 7: April 25 at Hamilton, 6:30 p.m.*
*if necessary

Season series:
Barons 3, Hamilton 2 (OT) on Oct. 24 in Hamilton
Hamilton 3, Barons 0 on Dec. 17 in Oklahoma City

Records:
Hamilton: 44-27-2-7 (97 points)
Barons: 40-29-2-9 (91 points)

Power play:
Hamilton: 59-315 (18.7 percent)
Barons: 76-407 (18.7 percent)

Penalty kill:
Hamilton: 59-348 (83.0 percent)
Barons: 69-394 (82.5 percent)

Leading scorers:
Hamilton: Nigel Dawes (41-31-72) (14-14-28 in 19 games with Hamilton. Remainder with Chicago)
Aaron Palushaj (22-35-57)
David Desharnais (10-35-45)*
J.T. Wyman (18-18-36)
Max Pacioretty (17-15-32)*
*Now with NHL’s Montreal Canadiens and not on Clear Day roster.

Dawes, the second-leading goal-scorer in the AHL, played three games against the Barons, all for Chicago, during the regular season and did not register a point.

Barons: Alexandre Giroux (32-46-78)
Brad Moran (20-52-72)
Colin McDonald (42-16-58)
Teemu Hartikainen (17-25-42)
Liam Reddox (18-15-33)*
With NHL’s Edmonton Oilers and not on Clear Day roster.

McDonald, the leading goal-scorer in the AHL, scored a goal in two games against the Bulldogs this season.

Goaltenders:
Hamilton: Drew MacIntyre: 41 games played, 24-11-3 (12-6-2 in 21 games with Hamilton. Remainder with Chicago), .922 save pct., 2.37 GAA
Curtis Sanford: 40 games played, 22-13-2, .930 save pct., 1.93 GAA
Barons: Martin Gerber, 42 games played, 20-16-4, 911 save pct., 2.60 GAA
Jeff Deslauriers, 35 games played, 17-13-4, .906 save pct., 2.81 GAA

Gerber played both games vs. Hamilton during the regular season. Sanford played one game vs. Barons, stopping all 29 shots in Dec. 17 shutout win at the Cox Center. MacIntyre played two games against the Barons for Chicago. On Jan. 23, he gave up 2 goals in 2-1 Barons win. On Jan. 26, gave up 4 goals and stopped 9 of 10 Barons shooters in shootout in 5-4 Chicago win over Barons.

Most PIM:
Hamilton: Jimmy Bonneau: 180
Barons: Alex Plante: 138

With the Barons loss at Houston on Sunday, they are the No. 5 team in the West Division, a crossover spot that puts them in the North Division No. 4 spot.

The Barons will open the playoffs Thursday in Hamilton, Ontario. They’ll play Game 3 at home Tuesday, April 19 at 7:05 p.m. They’ll also host Game 4 April 20 and Game 5 (if necessary) April 22. Tickets for those games will go on sale at 11 a.m. Monday at Ticketmaster, the Cox Center and through the Barons at 232-GOAL.

First round
Game 1 Thursday at Hamilton 6:30 p.m.

Game 2 Saturday at Hamilton 3 p.m.

Game 3 April 19 at Oklahoma City 7:05 p.m.

Game 4 April 20 at Oklahoma City 7:05 p.m.

Game 5 April 22 at Oklahoma City 7:05 p.m.*

Game 6 April 24 at Hamilton 3 pm.*

Game 7 April 25 at Hamilton 6:30 p.m.*

*if necessary

Other Western Conference playoff matchups:
Lake Erie vs. Manitoba
Milwaukee vs. Texas
Houston vs. Peoria

With tonight’s 2-0 win at Texas, the Barons clinched a playoff berth in their inaugural season. Tomorrow’s game at Houston will go a long way toward determining the Barons’ seed and where they open the postseason next weekend on the road.

The Barons  were 3-2-0-1 against Milwaukee; 1-5-1-2 vs. Houston (going into tomorrow’s game) and 1-1 vs. Hamilton

Here’s a look at the scenarios:

Key Games: Barons at Houston, 4:05 p.m.; Texas at San Antonio, 4:30 p.m.

With Barons win and Texas loss

3. Barons (vs. Houston); 4. Peoria (vs. Milwaukee); 5. Texas (vs. Hamilton)

With Barons win and Texas win or shootout loss

3. Texas (vs. Houston); 4. Barons (vs.. Milwaukee); 5. Peoria (vs. Hamilton)

With Barons loss (shootout or regulation) and Texas win

3. Texas (vs. Houston); 4. Peoria (vs. Milwaukee); 5. Barons (vs. Hamilton)

With Barons loss (shootout or regulation) and Texas shootout loss

3. Texas (vs. Houston); 4. Peoria (vs. Milwaukee); 5. Barons (vs. Hamilton)

With Barons loss (shootout or regulation) and Texas loss

3. Peoria (vs. Houston); 4. Texas (vs. Milwaukee); 5. Barons (vs. Hamilton)

raber@opubco.com

Some quick hits after a conversation with Barons coach Todd Nelson and forward Colin McDonald this afternoon:

• The plan right now is for newly signed center Tanner House to be in the lineup tomorrow night in Milwaukee.

“He’s a very responsible two-way centerman who takes pride in what he does in the defensive zone but can also put up some numbers,” Nelson said.

The other Barons played on an amateur tryout contract who has yet to see game action is defenseman Taylor Fedun.

Fedun might not see the ice for the Barons this season.

“We’ve got a lot of depth right now on defense,” Nelson said. “And he’s going to be heading back to the university soon.”

• Martin Gerber is back in Oklahoma City for testing but may be able to rejoin the team in Houston over the weekend.

“We’re supposed to get word today on how those tests went,” Nelson said. “Hopefully, he’s feeling a lot better and all he has to do is get through the soreness and get back on the ice for us.”

Gerber was injured last week in a third-period collision in the Barons’ eventual shootout loss to Grand Rapids.

Since then, Jeff Deslauriers has come in and done a commendable job.

“He came on in a tough situation and really played outstanding for us,” Nelson said. “Even last night, we just ran out of gas. Two of their three power-play goals were off deflections and there wasn’t a whole lot Jeff could do.”

• McDonald continues to produce no matter who he’s paired with.

Much of his early-season successes were attributed to his being paired with Alexandre Giroux and Brad Moran.

Moran has been consistently at center on McDonald’s line but through Giroux’s recent call-ups to Edmonton and then Teemu Hartikainen’s move up as well, McDonald has put together probably his best stretch of the season.

“He realizes that he had to step up to the plate and he’s done so,” Nelson said. “He’s getting rewarded to working hard. He’s one of the guys we depend on right now to get us through this stretch.”

Friday night in Rockford, McDonald had his first hat trick since juniors in the Barons’ 5-1 win over the IceHogs.

“For whatever reason, things have been going well for me this year,” McDonald said. “It was nice to get to the 30-goal plateau but to do it with a hat trick was pretty neat.

“I try to stay on an even keep though. I don’t want to get too low when things aren’t going great or too high when they are. I just want to keep focused on next time.”

• McDonald and several teammates took advantage of Monday’s off day to spend some time away from hockey.

“We’re just trying to rest up, get some fluids and try to get our minds off of hockey for a little bit,” McDonald said.

To do that, McDonald and teammates Moran, Deslauriers, Richard Petiot, Jake Taylor, Ben Ondrus and Zack Stortini went to the mall.

“We’re just relaxing some and probably going to see at least one movie a bit later,” McDonald said.

Playing their third game in as many days against a team that was a day removed from coming off a five-day break, it wasn’t surprising that the Barons had a letdown Sunday.

Whether they could afford it could be another story.

Locked in a tight race in the West Division, the Barons fell 4-0 at Chicago, falling into a three-way tie for fourth with nine games left.

All of the Wolves’ goals were scored on special teams, with Tim Miller starting things off by taking advantage of a Barons giveaway to score shorthanded 11:37 into the game.

The Wolves then added a pair of power-play goals in a 1:15 stretch in the middle of the second. Both came off separate Ben Ondrus minor penalties.

Chicago scored another power-play goal in the third to finish 3 of 6 with the advantage. The Barons were scoreless on seven power-play tries.

The Barons get a day off today before resuming the trip at second-place Milwaukee on Tuesday. The trip concludes with a trio of games at Houston over the weekend.

The loss was the first time on the trip the Barons have failed to pick up a point. They’re now 2-1-0-2 on the trip.

Newly signed forward Dusty Collins sat out in favor of a seventh defenseman. The Barons were joined by Tanner House, who signed an amateur tryout contract with the team earlier in the day.

House, who sat out as a healthy scratch, signed a two-year deal with the Barons NHL affiliate Edmonton a day earlier. That deal takes effect next season.

Taylor Fedun, who was also added on an ATO earlier in the month, has yet to see action with the Barons.