OKC Barons shut out by Chicago Wolves

“In the second and third we started playing better, but by then it was too late,” he said. “Our guys worked hard for a couple periods, but we have to understand we have to elevate our game here.”

The Barons recently clinched the Western Division title and could have had an issue with complacency, but Danis didn’t think that was the case.

“We’ve been talking all week how we’re trying to clinch that first spot in the conference and also build some confidence for the playoffs,” he said. “We didn’t do that this weekend.”

Oklahoma City (43-21-9) has just three games remaining on its regular season schedule to return to winning ways before beginning the playoffs. Danis laid that duty at his and his teammates’ feet.

“It’s now or never to build confidence,” he said. “If we don’t play well now, it’s not gonna get easier in the playoffs. We definitely shouldn’t be satisfied, and we should want more.