El Paso Rhinos (7-7-0-0, 14pts) vs. Odessa Jackalopes (6-7-0-1, 13pts)
at Ector County Coliseum in Odessa, TX
Time: Friday 7:15 p.m. CDT | Saturday 7:15 p.m. CDT
Broadcast: HockeyTV | Listen Live Here
What You Need to Know:
All-Time Record: 7-3
Season Series: 2-0
Leading Scorers:
ELP: 9pts, Cosman (4G, 5A)
ODA: 11pts, Goode (8G, 3A)
Momentum:
Odessa may be coming off a bye week, but their last game came in the form of a victory after beating Lone Star in a shootout. As for the Rhinos, they swept Corpus Christi last weekend moving them one spot above the Jacks. The last time these two teams saw one another was a month ago during the Jacks home opening weekend. With the Jacks winning both games by two goals. This will be El Paso’s final trip to Odessa this season. The Jacks have won four-straight games against the Rhinos dating back to December 4th of last season. El Paso has played 10 games against South Division teams and has a 4-6 record with all four wins coming against the IceRays.
Even Strength:
The Jacks have scored 38 goals this season, which is the fifth most in the South. Out of those goals, 33 have been while on even strength which is the four most in the division. The Rhinos have scored the fewest number of goals in the South at 31. The Jacks rank last in the NAHL in power-play goals (4) and powerplay percentage (8.2%). They are also one of four teams without a short-handed goal. El Paso has the third-worst power play at 12.2% and the second-fewest power-play goals with five. Odessa ended last season with 30 power-play goals and 10 short-handed goals.
Frozen Rubber:
The Jacks have taken the fewest number of shots out of any team in the league (366). El Paso has taken the second-fewest with 386. Both teams are tied for the least number of shots in the final period at 105. Odessa is the only team yet to reach double-digit goals in the third period (9). The Rhinos lowest scoring period is the first as they have only registered seven goals in the first 20 minutes of play. That is the fourth fewest across the NAHL.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Rhinos (F: #9 – Kolby Amici)
The 19-year-old is in his final season of junior hockey. Amici started his NAHL last season with the Jamestown Rebels. The Orchard Park, NY native played in 54 games during his rookie season and finished with 19 points (9G, 10A). Prior to reaching the NAHL, Amici played three years of high school prep hockey for Nichols School (119GP, 29G, 36A). He was their assistant captain in 2020-21. So far this season the 5’9”/180lb. right-handed forward is second on the team in points (8) and is tied for second in assists (5). He has the only short-handed goal for El Paso this season. He tallied a goal and two assists in his previous game. He has played in both games against Odessa this season and has one goal.
Jackalopes (F: #17 – Brendan Finn)
The Oxford, MI native is in his final year of junior eligibility. Finn played 35 games for the Jacks last season and ended with three goals and seven assists. Before reaching the NAHL, Finn spent two years playing for Lake Orion High (USHS-MI) totaling 40 games and 61 points (31G, 30A). He placed in the top two in points each season. The 19-year-old is currently T-9th on the team in points with four (2G, 2A). Finn enters this weekend on a two-game point streak (career-high).
