The Rebels will begin a nine-game road swing that starts tomorrow night with two games against the Johnstown Tomahawks. The last away game will conclude on Valentine’s Day when the Rebels visit the New Jersey Titans.
Rebels vs. Tomahawks Overview
This will be games nine and ten out of a twelve game series between the two teams. The Rebels have won seven of the eight games outscoring the Tomahawks 30 – 10. The last time these two teams met was back on December 16 when Andrew Bellant scored 1:34 into overtime to give the Rebels a 2 – 1 win. Six of the eight games have been played at the Class of 1923 Arena. The last four remaining games (including this weekend) will be played at the War Memorial. The Rebels will close out the season in Johnstown on April 6 and 7.
Ben Schmidling leads the Tomahawks in points against the Rebels with six (1 goal and 5 assists). Cade Groton and Roman Kraemer each have two goals against Philadelphia. The Tomahawks, so far, are 2 for 31 (6%) on the powerplay. Johnstown’s goalies have a combined 3.75 goals against average and .872 save percentage with no shutouts against the Rebels.
Aaron Maguyon has the most points against the Tomahawks with seven (4 goals and 3 assists). He also has scored the most goals against Johnstown with four. Andrew Bellant (3 goals and 3 assists) and Adam Peck (2 goals and 4 assists) each have six points against them. The Rebels are 9 for 36 (25%) on the powerplay against the Tomahawks. Goaltenders Eli Billing and Ryan Keane have a combined 1.25 goals against average and a .940 save percentage with one shutout (Keane) against Johnstown.
Johnstown Tomahawks Overview
The Tomahawks enter this weekend’s series against the Rebels with a 12-24-2-1 record for 27 points. They are in last past in the East Division, and they are twenty-three points behind division leader Philadelphia. The Tomahawks have played the most games of any East Division team with thirty-nine. They are 3 – 2 during this past five games, and they are coming off a 5 – 3 home loss against the Northeast Generals.
Johnstown is led by Samuel Solensky’s twenty-seven points (10 goals and 17 assists). He is followed by Schmidling’s twenty points (9 goals and 11 assists). Joe Kile (11 goals and 7 assists) and Kraemer (12 goals and 6 assists) each have eighteen points. Kraemer has the most goals on the team with twelve. Solensky and Schmidling each have two game winning goals. Forward Mitchell Hale has the most penalty minutes on the team with 127.
The Tomahawks have scored 91 goals on the season (tied for second for least amount of goals scored in the league). They have allowed 136 goals (third most allowed in the league). They are sixteenth in the league on the powerplay having converted on 18.3% of their chances, while they are twelfth in the league on the penalty kill having prevented the opposition from scoring 79.6% of the time.
Goalies Jack Leavy and Kade Phipps have a combined 2.78 goals against average and .909 save percentage. Each has one shutout.
Rebels Overview
The Rebels enter this weekend with a 24-8-2 records for 50 points. They are in first place in the division, and they are seven points ahead of second place Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. The Rebels are 3 – 2 in their last five games, and they are coming off of a 5 – 4 overtime home loss against the Titans.
The Rebels are led by Maguyon’s twenty-six points (10 goals and 16 assists). He is followed by Jensen Zerban’s twenty-five points (13 goals and 12 assists) and Bellant’s twenty-four points (10 goals and 14 assists). Zerban leads the team with thirteen goals scored. Bellant has the most game-winning goals on the team with four, and he leads the team in penalty minutes with eighty-four. Defenseman Carson Moniz has the team’s best +/- with a +13.
Philadelphia has scored 118 goals in thirty-four games (fifth most in the league), and they have allowed 76 (fourth best in the league). The Rebels lead the league on the powerplay having converted on 29.9% of their chances, and they are ranked third in the league on the penalty kill having prevented the opposition from scoring 85.5% of the time.
Billing and Keane have a combined 2.20 goals against average and a .906 save percentage with two shutouts (one each).
