SEWELL, NJ – The Philadelphia Rebels (15-18-1-1, 32 pts) play a home-and-home series with the New Jersey Titans (23-12-1-1, 48 pts) this weekend beginning Friday night at Hollydell Ice Arena.
Here are five things to know ahead of the matchup:
1. Dancing in the New Year
After winning four of five games in December and entering 2023 with points in five-straight, the Rebels have started the New Year with four wins in six contests.
Philadelphia won three of its first four games of the calendar year, including a victory over New Jersey on Jan. 13 in Middletown, NJ.
That game was New Jersey’s first, and only, regulation loss since Oct. 29.
2. Hammer Time
The Rebels most experienced player has been heating up of late. Max Hamstad has scored five points in his last five games.
Hamstad assisted on David Deputy’s overtime goal last Friday at Northeast. The forward has a pair of goals in his last five and two multi-point games.
Overall, Hamstad is third on the team with 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists.
3. Titan Slayer
In four appearances against New Jersey this season, Jakub Krbecek is 2-1-0-1 with a .939 save percentage.
In the last home-and-home two weeks ago, Krbecek played both contests and stopped 82 of 87 shots against.
Through 26 appearances this season, Krbecek has 13 wins and a .920 save percentage.
4. Last Time Out
Last week, the Rebels traveled to New England for a series with the Northeast Generals.
After a lopsided defeat on Thursday, Philadelphia bounced back with a hard-fought overtime victory Friday night.
David Deputy scored the overtime game-winning goal to earn the series split and tie Connor Sedlak for the team lead in goals with 12.
5. Scouting the Titans
Since Oct. 29, New Jersey has won 16 of 19 games to catapult up the East Division standings. Their lone regulation loss in that span came to Philadelphia on Jan. 13.
The Titans have an effective power play, operating at 22.2% this season. Dominik Bartecko and Brendan Dumas are the kickstarters on the Titans’ man-advantage, combining for 27 power-play assists this season.
Philadelphia stopped the New Jersey power play while down two men early in the Rebels’ win over the Titans on Jan. 13.
Friday’s game begins at 8 p.m. at Hollydell Ice Arena and admission is free for all fans. Both games can be seen on HockeyTV with Saturday’s game starting at 7 p.m. from Middletown, NJ.
