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Division, playoff races heat up as season passes midway point

January 16, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


The ECHL season reached the halfway point this past weekend, and division and playoff races are starting to materialize across the league.

The tightest division race is in the South Division, where the four teams are separated by just three points. Gwinnett, which defeated Greenville 3-2 on Monday afternoon, leads the division with 47 points, followed by Florida, which has gone 8-1-1 in its last 10 games, which is two points back at 45. South Carolina, which ran its winning streak to six games with a 4-3 win at Reading on Monday, is tied with Greenville for third place in the division with 44 points each.

Kalamazoo leads the North Division with 45 points, and has a seven-point lead over Chicago.

The Atlantic Division leading Elmira Jackals own the most points in the Eastern Conference with 49, which gives the club a six-point edge over Wheeling for the division lead.

In the Eastern Conference playoff race, only six points separate Chicago, which currently has the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference with 38 points, and four other teams looking to move into that position. Reading, which is on a 6-3-1 run in its last 10 games, is two points behind the Express with 36, while Cincinnati sits three behind Chicago with 35. The Cyclones host the Express for a pair of games on Friday and Saturday. Toledo, which is unbeaten in its last four games (2-0-2), has moved to within five points of Chicago, while Trenton is six points out of the final spot with 32 points.

The defending Brabham Cup and Kelly Cup champion Alaska Aces are well on their way to defending their regular-season title, leading the Western Conference with 63 points. Alaska, which is 21-1-5 in its last 26 games and 23-3-0 at home, has allowed just 73 goals in 39 games this season. Las Vegas leads the Pacific Division, and sits second in the Western Conference, with 50 points.

Colorado is third in the conference with 46 points, four more than Ontario. Utah and Idaho, who meet tonight at Maverik Center, are fifth and sixth in the conference with 36 and 35 points respectively, while Stockton currently holds the seventh and final playoff spot with 34 points, giving it a 12-point edge over Bakersfield.

Divisions

ATLANTIC DIVISION

- Jack Downing scored his first career game-winning goal on Sunday against Trenton.

- The Jackals have taken points in their last 12 games against Atlantic Division opponents, dating back to Nov. 26.

- Elmira hosts Trenton on Friday and plays Wheeling in Johnstown on Saturday.

- Kenny Ryan has at least one point in four of his five games with the Royals (2g-4a).

- Reading has 10 come-from-behind wins this season.

- The Royals host South Carolina on Monday, Kalamazoo on Friday and Toledo on Saturday.

- Rob Bordson and Ryan Hayes share the team lead with 25 points each.

- The Titans are 7-1-1-2 when leading after two periods.

- Trenton is at Elmira on Friday and hosts Kalamazoo on Saturday and Toledo on Sunday.

- Peter Lenes has seven points (4g-3a) in his first four games with the Nailers.

- Wheeling notched its first shootout win of the season on Sunday against Cincinnati.

- The Nailers host Toledo on Friday and Elmira on Saturday, with both games in Johnstown.

NORTH DIVISION

- Drew Akins played his first game for the Express on Friday and scored his first professional goal.

- The Express are tied for fourth with six shorthanded goals.

- Chicago travels to Cincinnati on Friday and Saturday.

- Chet Pickard is second in the league with a .889 shootout save percentage (8-for-9).

- Cincinnati is third with 33.13 shots per game.

- The Cyclones host Chicago on Friday and Saturday.

- Trent Daavettila is on three-game point streak and has earned points in eight out of his last nine games.

- The K-Wings are 9-4-3 in one-goal games.

- Kalamazoo is at Reading on Friday and at Trenton on Saturday.

- Joey Martin has eight points (5g-3a) in his last five games.

- Toledo is unbeaten in its last four games (2-0-2).

- The Walleye play Wheeling on Friday in Johnstown and are at Reading on Saturday and Trenton on Sunday.

SOUTH DIVISION

- Pat Nagle is tied for fourth with 14 wins.

- The Everblades are second on the power play at 22.3 percent (41-for-184).

- Florida is at Gwinnett on Friday and South Carolina on Saturday and Sunday.

- Justin Bowers leads the league with 19 power play points (2g-17a).

- Greenville is 14-6-1 against the South Division.

- The Road Warriors are in Gwinnett on Monday and South Carolina on Friday before hosting Gwinnett on Saturday and Sunday.

- Chris Clackson has been even or better in 23 of 28 games this season.

- The Gladiators are 8-3-1 in their last 12 home games.

- Gwinnett hosts Greenville on Monday and Florida on Friday before visiting Greenville on Saturday and Sunday.

- Zach Tarkir is tied for first among ECHL defensemen with three game-winning goals.

- South Carolina is second with 2.39 goals-against per game.

- The Stingrays are at Reading on Monday and host Greenville on Friday and Florida on Saturday and Sunday.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION

- Wes Goldie is 13 goals shy of tying Rod Taylor for the all-time ECHL record (368).

- The Aces are 21-1-5 in their last 27 games.

- Alaska hosts Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

- Aaron Schneekloth leads ECHL defensemen with 31 points (12g-19a).

- Colorado is tied for the most road points in the league with 25 (11-6-3).

- The Eagles visit Las Vegas on Monday and Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

- Chad Nehring has goals in back-to-back games.

- The Steelheads second in the ECHL in shootout shooting percentage (.400) and third in shootout shooting percentage against (.179).

- Idaho visits Utah on Monday and Alaska on Friday and Saturday.

- Paul McIlveen leads the club with 15 goals.

- Utah is 12-4-3 when scoring first.

- The Grizzlies host Bakersfield on Thursday and Friday.

PACIFIC DIVISION

- Tyson Gimblett scored his first pro goal on Saturday against Colorado.

- The Condors lead the league with nine shorthanded goals.

- Bakersfield is at Ontario on Monday and at Utah on Thursday and Friday.

- Eric Lampe leads the league with 28 goals.

- Las Vegas is first on the penalty kill at home at 86.7 percent (65-for-75).

- The Wranglers host Colorado on Monday and visit Stockton on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Chris Carrozzi is 4-0-2 in his last six appearances.

- The Reign are third in the ECHL with 2.67 goals-against per game.

- Ontario hosts Bakersfield on Monday and Colorado on Friday and Saturday.

- Kevin Baker has scored 166 goals since 2006-07, ranking third in the ECHL over that span.

- Stockton leads the ECHL in attendance with an average of 5,766 fans per game.

- The Thunder host Las Vegas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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ECHL Stories from January 16, 2012


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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