The Philadelphia Rebels host the Elmira Aviators on Tuesday afternoon for their final home game of the 2025-26 season.
Tuesday’s matchup comes at a pivotal moment for both teams, as each looks to respond after being swept last weekend. The Rebels dropped a pair at home to the Maine Nordiques, extending their losing streak to five games, while the Aviators were swept on the road by the Northeast Generals and enter on a two-game slide of their own.
The game also marks the third meeting between the teams this month. Philadelphia earned a 3-2 shootout victory on March 13 in Elmira, getting power-play goals from Ryan Bunting and Thomas Klochkov, with Klochkov also netting the deciding goal in the shootout. The Aviators responded the following night with a 2-0 shutout win.
Elmira’s offense is powered by a high-end trio featuring Evan Dantas (23 goals, 53 points), Matt Maglio (47 points) and Corson Maguire (20 goals, 40 points). Maguire has tallied 19 points in 16 games since being acquired by Elmira from Rochester earlier in the campaign. That trio has driven much of the Aviators’ production this season and will be a focal point defensively for the Rebels.
Philadelphia counters with a more balanced offensive approach. Jordan Brothers (35 points), Abzal Alibek (30 points) and Billy Sheridan (27 points) lead the way. Defenseman Joe Stauber has been on a tear in March, scoring five of his 10 goals this season during the month. The captain has totaled 25 points on the year.
The Rebels’ power play has caught fire in March, converting at a 10-for-20 clip, providing a major boost offensively down the stretch. Elmira enters with a 21.2 percent success rate on the man advantage, while the penalty kill units are nearly even, with the Aviators at 76.3 percent and Philadelphia close behind at 76.2 percent.
In net, Ilja Nikitins has provided stability for Philadelphia with a .913 save percentage across 38 appearances. Elmira is expected to rely on Max Larsson, who owns a 2.53 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage, giving the Aviators a dependable presence between the pipes.
Puck drop is set for 3:00 p.m., and fans can catch all the action on NATV.