The Rebels will be hosting the first place Maine Nordiques this Saturday and Sunday at the Hollydell Ice Arena. The puck drop for Saturday’s contest is 7:30PM while Sunday’s New Year’s Eve game is at 3:00PM.
It will be Ugly Sweater Night on Saturday with all fans wearing an ugly sweater will receive free admission, and there will be Skate Night with the Rebels immediately following Sunday’s contest.
Nordiques vs. Rebels Overview
This will be games six and seven that the teams will be playing out of eight scheduled. The last time each team played (and played each other) was two weeks ago in Lewiston, ME when the Nordiques swept the two-game series by a combined score of 7 – 2.
The Nordiques have won three of the five games (including the last three straight) by a combined score of 18 to 16. The first game they met Philadelphia won in a shootout. The last game they played back on December 16 Carter Richardson stopped all 29 shots he faced to backstop Maine to a 3 – 0 victory.
The Nordiques are 3 for 17 (18%) on the powerplay so far against the Rebels. Kellen Murphy (2 goals and 3 assists) and Charles Tardif (2 goals and 3 assists) each have five points to lead the Nordiques against the Rebels while Nils Forselius has three goals. Maine’s goaltenders have a combined 2.95 goals against average and .900 save percentage with the one shutout.
The Rebels are 1 for 16 (6%) on the man advantage against Maine. Luke deVries (1 goal and 4 assists) and Kris Samitis (2 goals and 3 assists) lead Philadelphia with five total points. Otto Polakovs has the most goals scored (three) against the Nordiques. Rebels netminders have a combined 3.39 goals against average and .891 save percentage.
Nordiques Overview
Maine is currently in first place in the East Division with a 23-6-1-2 record for 49 points. They are coming off the home sweep of the Rebels back on December 15 and 16. They have won seven in a row and eight of their last ten games. Maine leads the league with most goals scored (138), and they have allowed 91 (15th in the league).
Tardif leads the Nordiques with 39 total points (21 goals and 18 assists) and goals (21). Five different players have scored two game winning goals. John Paul Steele leads the Nordiques with a +32. Cody Pisarczyk has the most penalty minutes on Maine with 67.
Maine’s goaltenders have a combined 2.76 goals against average and .915 save percentage with one shutout.
Rebels Overview
The Rebels are in eighth place in the East Division with an 11-17-0 record for 22 points. They are coming off being swept on the road to the Nordiques. They have lost four in a row and have six of their last ten games. Philadelphia has scored 80 goals (24th in the league), and they have allowed 100 (24th in the league).
Charles Panchisin leads the team with 21 total points (7 goals and 14 assists) while Polakovs and Samitis each have a team high of nine goals. Six different players have scored a game winning goal. Max Marquette, Sonny DiNubile and Panchisin each have a team best +11. Julian Brown has the most penalty minutes with 54.
Rebels netminders have a combined 3.30 goals against average and .907 save percentage with one shutout.