The Rebels will make their first East Division Road trip of the season tomorrow when they leave for the Piney Orchard Arena for a two-game series against the two-time defending East Division champion Maryland Black Bears.
Friday’s game time is 7:00 PM while Saturday’s puck drop is 7:30 PM.
Black Bears vs. Rebels Overview
Last season the Black Bears won six of the eight games played between the teams, and they outscored the Rebels by a combined score of 26 to 15. One of the Rebels wins was a 2 – 1 shootout victory at Piney Orchard back on December 8, 2023. Maryland went 7 for 35 (20%) on the powerplay while the Rebels went 3 for 30 (10%). Of this year’s returners, Charles Panchisin led the Rebels in total points with three (2 goals and 1 assist). This season the teams will play a total of six games between themselves with four of them being held at the Hollydell Ice Arena (December 20 and 21 and March 21 and 22). The teams did play a home-and-home pre-season series back in early September with the Rebels winning both contests.
Black Bears Overview
The Black Bears are currently in second place in the East Division with a 5-2-0-0 record for ten points. They won two of three at last week’s Showcase and they swept the Danbury Hat Tricks at home the weekend of September 20 and 21.
The Black Bears have scored 18 goals (18th in the league), and they have allowed 14 (11th in the league). They have converted on 15.15% of the chances on the man advantage (20th in the league), and their penalty kill is at 87.1% (18th in the league).
Trey Hinton (1 goal and 5 assists), Markas Samenas (1 goal and 5 assists) and Harrison Smith (2 goals and 4 assists) each have six total points to lead Maryland. Kareem El Bashir has the most goals on the team with four. Smith also has the most game winning goals with two. El Bashir has a team best +6 while Maddox Tulacro leads the Black Bears with 38 penalty minutes.
Maryland’s goaltenders have a combined 1.97 goals against average and .920 save percentage with one shutout.
Rebels Overview
The Rebels are currently in fourth place in the East Division with a 4-2-1-0 record for nine points. They dropped two of three at last week’s Showcase but they are coming off of a home sweep over the Johnstown Tomahawks the weekend of September 20 and 21.
Philadelphia has scored 27 goals (second in the league), and they have allowed 26 (28th in the league). They have converted on 21.88% of the chances on the man advantage (5th in the league), and their penalty kill is at 82.1% (26th in the league).
Panchisin leads the team with ten total points (2 goals and eight assists) while Brayton Frick (now out with an injury) and Ruslan Jamaldinov each have a team high four goals. Four different players (Jamaldinov, Brock Jones, Caesar Bjork and Drew Belleson) each have scored a game winning goal. Jones has a team best +6. Joe Stauber has the most penalty minutes with 31.
Rebels’ goaltenders have a combined 3.76 goals against average and .889 save percentage with no shutouts.
Next weekend the Rebels will have a home-and-home series with the New Jersey Titans.
