When the Rebels touch the ice this Friday it will not only be their first home game of 2019 but also their first in 20 days. They host the Knights to cap off four-straight against them. The Rebels received their first lost to the Knights this past Saturday by a final of 4-2, which snapped their five-game win streak. The Rebels are looking for revenge and to get back in the win column. Whereas the Knights are hoping they have finally found their groove in the second half of the season. They have been in the bottom three in the East for most of the season. With the second half of the season in full swing, their mindset is to win at all costs, so they can secure the last playoff spot. As for the Rebels their mentality is to increase their distance on the Titans and while doing so close the gap on Johnstown.
Penalty Minutes:
The Rebels have the fewest PIMS in the East with 455. The Knights sit right in the middle with 644. Discipline is a big component of winning hockey games. The Rebels do a phenomenal job of drawing penalties and not retaliating. By them not taking penalties it allows all five guys to stay out on the ice to keep the pressure up on the opposition. While the power play has been struggling the Rebels are one of the best when down a man. Their penalty kill puts them at fourth place in the league at 84.6%. Right behind them though are the Knights at 83.7%. This past weekend the Rebels went 0/7 on the man advantage, whereas the Knights went 1/8. With the Knights being in the top ten for power play and penalty kill, the Rebels must stay out of the box and find ways to capitalize on the extra man. If they can do that, they will easily skate away from the weekend with the full four points.
Good to be Back:
The Rebels are 9-6 on home ice where they have put up 50 goals for and have only allowed 34. The Knights are worse on the road then they are at home, with a record of 4-6-1. The past six home games for the Rebels have resulted in a record of 5-1. The only loss coming at the hands of Johnstown by a final of 3-2. The Knights have only been to Jamestown once this season, which was back on Oct. 26-27. The Rebels swept them that weekend, scoring six goals and only allowing one each night. The last time the Knights won a road game was back on Dec. 8th when they shutout the Generals by a final of 4-0. Finally, both shutouts for Rebels goaltender Noah West have come while at the Northwest Arena by a final of 4-0 against the Black Bears.
Alex Frye:
This Friday will mark his 200th game played at the junior hockey level, between the USHL and NAHL. Through his 199 games played he has found the back of the net 51 times and assisted on 51 as well. In the NAHL alone he has played 144 games, recording 48 goals and 46 helpers. He leads the Rebels this season in goals (18) and assists (14) giving him 32 points, which puts him 17th overall in the league. Alex has already tied his most points in a season (2016-17 Topeka Roadrunners) and it took him 18 less games. During that season with the Roadrunners was also the most goals Frye has scored in a season (19). Frye is just one of five players for the Rebels to have played in every game thus far. With 27 games left to go for the Rebels this season there will surely be a lot of records set for #27 Alex Frye.
