Bullfrogs’ Kick Isn’t What It Used to Be : Roller hockey: Defending champions limp into this week’s playoffs, having lost five of last six games.

If the Bullfrogs were supposed to run away with their second consecutive championship, someone forgot to tell the other 23 teams in Roller Hockey International.

Last season, with their roster completely composed of minor league ice hockey players, the Bullfrogs demolished the competition, winning 17 of 18 games and claiming the RHI’s inaugural Championship Cup.

This season, however, the rest of the RHI emulated the Bullfrogs’ personnel strategy. The imitation has served to flatter--and flatten--the Bullfrogs.

The defending champions are limping into the playoffs, which begin this week. The Bullfrogs (13-8-1), losers of five of their last six games, open a two-game series Thursday at San Jose (13-7-2) before returning for Game 2 on Friday at The Pond.

If the teams split the two games, a 12-minute mini-game will follow the second game. If neither team wins the mini-game, a shootout will determine the series winner. The winner will advance to the Pacific Division finals.

After a 9-1 start, the Bullfrogs are 4-7-1 since the all-star break, sliding to a third-place finish in the Pacific. Anaheim’s last non-shootout victory came nearly three weeks ago, July 29, over Las Vegas, 14-4.

Meanwhile, arch-rival Los Angeles (18-4) leapfrogged over Anaheim to win the division in convincing fashion. The Blades, who have the best record in the Western Conference, open the playoffs tonight at San Diego before concluding the series at home Friday.

According to Bullfrog Coach Grant Sonier, the RHI in 1994 is bigger and better.

“You can’t compare them,” Sonier said. “It’s like night and day.”

Said Bullfrog forward Bobby McKillop: “Last season, we outclassed the league talent-wise. We knew if we played half-decent, we’d win because the rest of the league stunk.”

This season, the Bullfrogs have had their share of shining and stinking moments.

Goaltender Rob Laurie won his first five starts and flashed his all-star form by almost posting a shutout over the Blades in the season opener.

By Aug. 2, he was a goalie who skated tentatively after a puck in the corner, only to have Vancouver’s Rob Hyrtsak steal it to score an empty-net goal in helping the VooDoo to a 10-8 victory. Laurie is 3-4 since the all-star break.

Team captain Kevin Kerr’s aggressiveness helped set the tone for the Bullfrogs’ fast start. He had 22 points and drew 87 penalty minutes in his first nine games.

But since receiving a game-misconduct penalty in a crucial 7-4 loss to the Blades on July 23, Kerr has only five points and six penalty minutes in his last seven games.

McKillop, last season’s playoff MVP, scored only one goal during a four-week span in July but rebounded to score 10 goals in his final seven regular-season games.

So which is the real Anaheim team? Are the Bullfrogs the dominating defending champs of the first-half of the season or the chumps who displayed no offensive or defensive consistency in the final month of the regular season?

“We’re caught in a tailspin that’s partly self-inflicted and partly bad luck,” Sonier said. “Sure the guys might be a little frustrated now. But all I can tell them is to stop hitting all those crossbars, goal posts and goalie masks, and just put it in the net.”

Said Brett Kurtz, Blade assistant coach and forward: “Fatigue could be one factor. But I really don’t think Anaheim is struggling as much as that the other teams have caught up and adjusted.”

Bullfrogs forward Savo Mitrovic brushed off the idea the Bullfrogs could be tired.

“The guys have to understand that whatever happens, you’ve got to find a way to win,” Mitrovic said. “If you think you’re tired, you shouldn’t be out here.”

Injuries sidelined some of the Bullfrogs’ top players, including Victor Gervais, McKillop and defensemen Yuri Krivokhija and Joe Cook. Only three players--Steve Beadle, Jim Brown and Mitrovic--played in all 22 Bullfrogs’ games.

But the team is in perfect health heading into the playoffs.

“Thursday, for the first time, I’ll have to sit three healthy bodies,” Sonier said.

Gervais doesn’t figure to get much bench time in the playoffs after leading the team in scoring for the second consecutive season.

He was the team’s most consistent scoring threat, finishing with 29 goals and 24 assists. Brad McCaughey (23 goals, 20 assists) and Brown (24 goals, 16 assists) also had 40-point seasons.

“The regular season means diddly-squat,” McKillop said. “That’s just where you weed out teams. Sure we’ve struggled, but we’re gearing up for the playoffs.”

Said Mitrovic: “We still can win this thing. Don’t count us out.”