ODENTON, MD – The Philadelphia Rebels (4-10-0-1, 9 pts) hit the road to face the Maryland Black Bears (16-3-0-0, 32 pts) this weekend.
Here are five things to know ahead of the series:
1. Road Rebels
Philadelphia will play its first road games this weekend since Oct. 14 and 15th at Johnstown. The Rebels have played just three road games in the East Division so far this season, but begin a stretch of four of the next five games on the road with this weekend’s series against Maryland.
All of the first three divisional road games came in Johnstown in October.
2. Hammer Time
Forward Maxwell Hamstad was named an Honorable Mention for the East Division Stars of the Week after last weekend’s series against Maine. Hamstad had a goal and two assists in a pair of games against the Nordiques.
Hamstad has points in three consecutive games entering the series against Maryland, including two goals and five total points.
He is second on the team with nine points this season (Deputy – 10).
3. Goaltending
Jakub Krbecek’s .913 save percentage is fourth-best among East Division goaltenders.
Krbecek made 28 saves in just over 60 minutes of action last weekend against Maine. In the four games prior to that, Krbecek stopped 112 of 119 shots (.941).
He made 33 saves in his only appearance against Maryland this season on Sept. 23.
4. Top Scorers
The Rebels top goal producers are Connor Sedlak and Maxwell Hamstad. Both have recorded four goals each this season.
Sedlak and Hamstad returned with the two highest goal totals from last season, scoring 10 and 12 respectively.
Each have scored twice in their last three games to take the team lead in goals.
5. Scouting the Black Bears
The Black Bears have lost three times in 19 games this season and are undefeated in seven home games at Piney Orchard Ice Arena so far. Maryland leads the league with 75 goals for, has given up the sixth fewest goals in the league (37) and leads the North American Hockey League with a +38 goal differential.
Black Bears forward Christian Catalano leads the league with 14 goals and is second in the league with 26 points while goaltender William Hakansson leads the league with a 10-0-0-0 record.
Both games this weekend begin at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen on HockeyTV.
