SEWELL, NJ – The Philadelphia Rebels (3-8-0-0, 6 pts) host the New Jersey Titans (6-8-0-0, 14 pts) for a two-game series at Hollydell Ice Arena this weekend.
Here are five things to know:
1. Home Stretch
For the first time this season the Rebels will host two consecutive series at home.
The Rebels are still looking for their first win at Hollydell Ice Arena, and will face New Jersey for the first time in the 2022-2023 season.
This weekend begins a stretch of four-straight home games for Philadelphia as it will host the Maine Nordiques on Nov. 4 and 5 after a weekend off.
2. Top Scorers
The top-two leading point scorers for the Rebels are both in their first year with the team.
David Deputy leads the Rebels with nine points through 11 games, and shares the lead with Klaus Jogi for most goals on the team with three. Deputy has been a leading contributor on the power play as well, scoring twice and adding two more assists on the man-advantage this season.
Greg Spitznagel has posted six points throughout nine games with the Rebels, and has assisted four goals so far. Spitznagel’s overtime goal on Oct. 1 against Johnstown provided Philadelphia with a road-win.
3. Options in Goal
The Rebels goaltending has been a bright spot early in the 2022-2023 season, and has kept the Rebels in nearly every game.
In the East Division, Jakub Krbecek and Jack Fialkoff have combined for the second-lowest goals against average (2.92).
Krbecek is currently posting a .918 save percentage, which ranks third in the East Division.
Fialkoff has very similar numbers, being tied for fourth out of qualified goalies in the East Division (.915).
4. Special Teams Advantage
The Rebels continue to be successful while short-handed, accumulating a 88.6% penalty kill, the best in the East Division and fourth in the league.
Out of the 45 times the Rebels have been short-handed, they have allowed only five goals and scored twice throughout 11 games.
Philadelphia scored a power-play goal in each game of its series against Johnstown last weekend.
5. Scouting New Jersey
New Jersey’s offense features two forwards that average over a point per game (Brendan Dumas/Anthony Calafiore). Dumas leads the Titans with 17 points on five goals and 12 assists. Calafiore (5G, 8A, 13P) and Dumas are the only players with five goals scored for New Jersey.
The Titans goaltending has logged a 3.06 goals-against average through 14 games. Jacob Torgner and Zakari Brice split the net for the Titans who, as a team, have combined for a .903 save percentage.
New Jersey has won its past three games, including a two-game series sweep over the Northeast Generals last weekend. The Titans have rebounded after losing their first six games of the season. Over their past eight games, the Titans are 6-2-0-0.
Friday and Saturday’s games both begin at 8 p.m. at Hollydell Ice Arena. Admission is free to all fans for all Rebels home games this season and both games can be seen on HockeyTV.
