ECHL ECHL

Key matchups ahead as season enters home stretch

Published on March 4, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL) News Release


With just over three weeks remaining in the ECHL regular season, playoff spots and positioning take center stage with some important head-to-head matchups on the upcoming schedule.

The defending Kelly Cup champion Florida Everblades are currently in the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, with a seven-point edge over both Kalamazoo and Fort Wayne. Florida will play both of those clubs this week on its four-game road trip to the North Division. The Everblades open the trip on Wednesday against Cincinnati before visiting the Komets on Friday and Saturday and the K-Wings on Sunday.

Cincinnati currently leads the Eastern Conference with 82 points, and is one of the hottest teams in the ECHL, winning seven straight games and posting a 13-3-1 record in its last 14 games.

Fort Wayne picked up five out of a possible six points last week, defeating Toledo on Wednesday before dropping a shootout at South Carolina on Friday and defeating the Stingrays in a shootout on Saturday. The Komets, who are idle until the two games against Florida this weekend, play eight of their final 12 games at home, where they lead the ECHL with 7,469 fans per game.

Kalamazoo opens a four-game home stand against Evansville on Friday. The K-Wings play nine of their final 13 games at home as they look to advance to the Kelly Cup Playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Wheeling, which went 2-0-1 last weekend, is eight points behind Florida for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Nailers have played 58 games, the fewest in the conference, and will host Elmira on Wednesday before hitting the road for games at Trenton on Friday and at Reading on Saturday.

The race for the top spot in the South Division is hotly contested as the top for teams in the division are separated by just five points. Gwinnett currently leads the way with 73 points, three points ahead of Greenville, while South Carolina is third with 69 points followed by Florida with 68 points.

The Gladiators wrap up their season-long nine-game road trip this week traveling to Utah on Wednesday and Idaho on Friday and Saturday. Following the road trip, Gwinnett plays six of its final seven games at home.

South Carolina hosts Greenville for a key three-game series at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Stingrays have gone 6-1-3 in their last 10 games, and have posted a 12-3-3 record in their last 18 contests.

Only two playoff spots remain up for grabs in the Western Conference. Las Vegas and Colorado clinched postseason berths over the weekend, with Utah (54 points) and San Francisco (49 points) currently in possession of seventh and eighth place in the conference, respectively. The Grizzlies host Gwinnett on Wednesday and Colorado on Friday and Saturday while San Francisco hosts Alaska on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and Las Vegas on Sunday. Bakersfield trails San Francisco by eight points for the final playoff spot, and is home for games against Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

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Divisions

Atlantic Division

- Matt Carter has eight points (3g-5a) in 16 games with Elmira.

- The Jackals are 21-for-23 (91.3 percent) on the penalty kill over the last eight games.

- Elmira is at Wheeling on Wednesday and Trenton on Thursday and hosts Orlando on Saturday and Reading on Sunday.

- Stanislav Galiev leads rookies with 11 power-play goals.

- Reading has had at least 35 shots on goal in 23 games this season.

- The Royals host Orlando on Friday and Wheeling on Saturday and are at Elmira on Sunday.

- Stephen Schultz has 13 goals in his last seven games.

- The Titans are tied for the league lead with six overtime wins.

- Trenton hosts Elmira on Thursday, Wheeling on Friday and Orlando on Sunday.

- Max MacKay scored his first professional goal on Sunday against Kalamazoo.

- Wheeling has played a league-high 12 shootouts.

- The Nailers host Elmira on Wednesday and are at Trenton on Friday and Reading on Saturday.

North Division

- Mike Embach scored a career-high five points (4g-1a) in Sunday's 9-4 win at Evansville.

- The Cyclones have outscored their opponents 77-53 in the third period.

- Cincinnati hosts Florida on Wednesday, Toledo on Friday and Evansville on Saturday.

- Todd Robinson is 12 points shy of 1,300 in his pro career.

- Evansville is averaging 4.25 goals per game over its last five games.

- The IceMen are at Kalamazoo on Friday and at Cincinnati on Saturday.

- Colin Chaulk recorded his 1,000th point as a pro on Wednesday against Toledo.

- The Komets are 23-4-0 when scoring three or more goals.

- Fort Wayne hosts Florida on Friday and Saturday.

- Joel Martin has appeared in 52 of Kalamazoo's 59 games this season.

- Kalamazoo plays nine of its final 13 games at home.

- The K-Wings host Evansville on Friday, Toledo on Saturday and Florida on Sunday.

- Trevor Parkes has 15 points (8g-7a) in seven games with Toledo.

- The Walleye lead the ECHL with 83 third period goals.

- Toledo is at Cincinnati on Friday and at Kalamazoo on Saturday.

South Division

- Mathieu Roy is tied for third with 29 goals.

- The Everblades are tied for first with 12 shorthanded goals.

- Florida travels to Cincinnati on Wednesday, Fort Wayne on Friday and Saturday and Kalamazoo on Sunday.

- Jordie Johnston is 11th among rookies with 36 points (16g-20a).

- Greenville set a club record with 7,529 fans on Saturday against Elmira.

- The Road Warriors are at South Carolina on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Sacha Guimond leads rookies with 26 power-play points (7g-19a).

- The Gladiators are fifth with 32.44 shots per game.

- Gwinnett is at Utah on Wednesday and Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

- Michael Wilson is tied for fourth among defensemen with 26 assists.

- Orlando is 15-1-1 when leading after two periods.

- The Solar Bears are at Reading on Friday, Elmira on Saturday and Trenton on Sunday.

- Ryan Zapolski is tied for third with 21 wins.

- The Stingrays are second with 2.48 goals-against per game.

- South Carolina hosts Greenville on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mountain Division

- Gerald Coleman has stopped 73 of 74 shots (.986 save percentage) in his last three starts.

- The Aces have killed off 34 consecutive opposition power-play chances.

- Alaska is at San Francisco on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

- Michael Forney is second with 13 power-play goals.

- Colorado concludes its season-long seven-game road trip this week.

- The Eagles are at Idaho on Tuesday and Wednesday and at Utah on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

- Josh Robinson has three shutouts in his last eight starts.

- The Steelheads lead the ECHL with 17 wins by three-or-more goals.

- Idaho hosts Colorado on Tuesday and Wednesday and Gwinnett on Friday and Saturday.

- Colin Vock leads the Grizzlies with 20 goals.

- Utah is fifth on the power play at 20.8 percent.

- The Grizzlies host Gwinnett on Wednesday and Colorado on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Pacific Division

- Brian Stewart is fifth with 1,974 minutes played.

- The Condors are 14-1-1 when leading after two periods.

- Bakersfield hosts Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

- Sean Wiles tallied six points (4g-2a) in three games last week.

- Las Vegas is sixth with 2.73 goals-against per game.

- The Wranglers are at Ontario on Wednesday and at Stockton on Friday and Saturday.

- Mario Lamoureux leads rookies with 52 points (22g-30a).

- The Reign are 26-5-3 against Pacific Division opponents.

- Ontario hosts Las Vegas on Wednesday and is at Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday and Stockton on Sunday.

- Yanni Gourde scored his first ECHL goal on Saturday against Las Vegas.

- San Francisco is 6-0-0 when leading after two periods at home.

- The Bulls host Alaska on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and Las Vegas on Sunday.

- Matt Bergland is on a six-game scoring streak since Feb. 20 (4g-3a).

- The Thunder are 22-5-6 when scoring first.

- Stockton hosts Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday and Ontario on Sunday.

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ECHL Stories from March 4, 2013


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