ECHL ECHL

Top spots in both conferences on the line this weekend

March 19, 2012 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release


As the ECHL enters the penultimate week of the 2011-12 regular season, head-to-head match ups in both the Eastern and Western Conference will help decide the overall number one seed on each side for the upcoming Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Greenville hosts Gwinnett on Friday and Saturday at BI-LO Center in a pair of games that will go a long way to deciding who captures the South Division title. Entering the week, the Road Warriors trail the Gladiators by two points not only for the division lead, but also for the top overall spot in the conference. Gwinnett has won the last three head-to-head meetings against Greenville, and is 8-6-1 overall against the Road Warriors this season.

The top spot in the Western Conference, and the accompanying bye in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, will be on the line on Friday and Saturday at Citizens Business Bank Arena as Ontario hosts Alaska. The Reign lead the Pacific Division with 86 points, three more than Las Vegas. Alaska captured its sixth division title in nine ECHL seasons on Saturday, and enjoys a five-point lead over Ontario for the number one spot in the conference. In addition to the two games this weekend, the Aces and Reign close out the regular season in southern California on March 30 and 31.

Elsewhere around the league, a three-team race has developed for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Reading, Cincinnati and Chicago each have 69 points, with the Royals currently in possession of the eighth and final spot by virtue of having the most regulation and overtime wins of the three clubs. The Cyclones and Express meet three times over the final two weeks of the season, with the first head-to-head match-up on Wednesday in Cincinnati.

The Florida Everblades, who went 5-2-0 on their recently-concluded seven-game northern road trip, return home to host South Carolina for games on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The two clubs are separated by just two points in the standings with the Stingrays currently holding down the sixth spot with 77 points while the Everblades are in seventh with 75.

Divisions

ATLANTIC DIVISION

- Mike Radja is on a five-game goal streak (7g) and has 10 goals in seven games since returning from the AHL.

- The Jackals have a league-leading 23 one-goal wins.

- Elmira visits Toledo on Friday and Saturday and Wheeling on Sunday.

- Denny Urban is tied for second among rookies with 20 power-play points (3g-17a).

- Reading leads the league with 20 road wins, marking the second straight year the club has won at least 20 games on the road.

- The Royals host Trenton on Friday and Sunday and visit the Titans on Saturday.

- Dave Caruso is fourth with 1,195 saves.

- The Titans are the league's third-least penalized team with 13.56 penalty minutes per game.

- Trenton visits Reading on Friday and Sunday and hosts the Royals on Saturday.

- Andrew Hotham is tied for fourth among rookies in plus-minus at +15.

- Wheeling is first with 34.02 shots per game.

- The Nailers host Cincinnati on Friday, visit the Cyclones on Saturday and host Elmira on Sunday.

NORTH DIVISION

- Rob Madore set a new Express record for saves in a single period with 19 saves in the first period against Wheeling on Wednesday.

- The Express have scored two or more power play goals in three of their last four games, and have converted on nine of their last 15 chances (60 percent).

- Chicago is at Cincinnati on Wednesday and Kalamazoo on Friday before hosting the K-Wings on Saturday and Toledo on Sunday.

- Mathieu Aubin is seventh with 63 points (28g-35a).

- Cincinnati is 20-7-4 when scoring first.

- The Cyclones host Chicago on Wednesday, are at Wheeling on Friday, host the Nailers on Saturday and travel to Kalamazoo on Sunday.

- Dustin Cloutier earned his first pro hat trick and the K-Wings first this season on Sunday as a part of a five-point (3g-2a) night.

- The K-Wings have killed 23 of their last 24 penalties (95.8 percent).

- Kalamazoo hosts Chicago on Friday, is at Chicago on Saturday and hosts Cincinnati on Sunday.

- Goaltender Alec Richards has started seven consecutive games.

- Toledo is 15-2-3 when leading after two periods.

- The Walleye host Elmira on Friday and Saturday and are at Chicago on Sunday.

SOUTH DIVISION

- David Fischer is second among defensemen with 42 points (6g-36a).

- The Everblades are second with 3.59 goals per game.

- Florida hosts South Carolina on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

- Brandon Wong became the fourth Road Warrior to reach 100 career points with the club with an assist on Sunday vs. Cincinnati.

- Greenville's 40 wins are tied for the most in the Eastern Conference.

- The Road Warriors host Gwinnett on Friday and Saturday.

- Pat Galivan leads the Gladiators with 24 goals.

- The Gladiators are fifth with 2.78 goals-against per game.

- Gwinnett is at Greenville on Friday and Saturday.

- Pierre-Luc O'Brien is tied for third in the ECHL with a plus-minus rating of +21.

- South Carolina is 23-3-4 when scoring first.

- The Stingrays are at Florida on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

MOUNTAIN DIVISION

- Dan Kissel is tied for the league lead in goals with 34.

- The Aces have held their opponents to one goal in four of their last five games.

- Alaska visits Ontario on Friday and Saturday.

- Aaron Schneekloth leads ECHL defensemen in points (58), goals (19) and assists (39).

- Colorado is 15-0-2 when leading after two periods.

- The Eagles are at Las Vegas on Tuesday, Bakersfield on Wednesday and Utah on Friday and Saturday.

- Jerry Kuhn has moved into second in league history for most saves in a single season with 1,871.

- The Steelheads lead the ECHL with 19 games that have gone past regulation, including 14 shootouts.

- Idaho hosts Utah on Wednesday and visits Las Vegas on Friday and Saturday.

- Paul McIlveen is sixth with 64 points (29g-35a).

- Utah is fourth on the penalty kill at home at 85.7 percent (132-for-154).

- The Grizzlies are at Idaho on Wednesday and host Colorado on Friday and Saturday.

PACIFIC DIVISION

- Robby Dee is tied for second among rookies with 22 goals.

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

- Bakersfield hosts Colorado on Wednesday and is at Stockton on Friday and Saturday.

- Adam Miller is tied for fourth in the league with 29 goals.

- Las Vegas is second on the penalty kill at 85.6 percent (226-for-264).

- The Wranglers host Colorado on Tuesday and Idaho on Friday and Saturday.

- Jean-Francois Berube earned his fourth shutout at Idaho on Friday.

- The Reign are tied for second in the league with 19 road wins (19-10-5).

- Ontario hosts Stockton on Wednesday and Alaska on Friday and Saturday.

- Chris D'Alvise has 13 points (9g-4a) in the last 10 games

- Stockton is 12-0-0 when leading after two periods at home.

- The Thunder travel to Ontario on Wednesday and host Bakersfield on Friday and Saturday.

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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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