WEEKEND PREVIEW: Aviators take to Massachusetts for first time this season to take on Generals
After taking two wins out of three in a trio of tough road tests last week, the Aviators are once again away from home this weekend, taking on the Northeast Generals.
Elmira has not faced Northeast since a series in late December and has not played at the Generals’ home rink, the Canton Ice House, this season.
The Gens have been treading water as they try to lock up one of the final two playoff spots in the East Division. The Aviators will try to play spoiler against the Generals this weekend.
FINDING DEFENSIVE EXCELLENCE
The Aviators are amidst one of their best runs of the season. The purple and black have won three of their last four games, including road victories over playoff teams in Rochester and Maine.
Much of Elmira’s success this season has come from its attacking play. The power play has taken a significant jump, and the Aviators have thrived in transitional moments.
However, Elmira’s recent run of success has come on the back of excellent defense and goaltending.
Jake Shingles picked up his first career NAHL shutout with a 23-save performance against the Philadelphia Rebels on March 14. The 2-0 victory was also the team’s first shutout of the season.
Shingles followed up the shutout with a career high 45 saves in Rochester a few days later. The Aviators won that game 6-3.
Fellow goaltender Aiden McKenna was excellent in his return to the crease this past weekend. After not starting three straight games, McKenna returned in Maine with 27 saves on 28 shots in a 4-1 Elmira win.
It hasn’t just been the goaltending rising to the occasion recently, but the team defense as well. In the series against Maine this past weekend, Elmira held the Nordiques under 30 shots in both contests.
Perhaps the most inspiring is the rise of the Aviator penalty kill in the last few games.
Elmira’s PK has labored for much of the season and still currently ranks at the bottom of the East Division at 75.6%. However, the penalty kill was perfect in Maine, going 5/5 against the Nordiques.
Over their last four games, the Aviators are 8/9 on the penalty kill. It’s a small sample, but it’s encouraging to see the unit improve.
Not only is Elmira killing off penalties at a better rate, but it’s taking fewer penalties overall, going on the kill just over two times a game over the last four played.
The Northeast Generals have a potent attack, so this weekend should be a good test to see if Elmira’s improved defense and goaltending can rise to the challenge.
Luckily for the Aviators, the Canton Ice House has been kind to them. Elmira is 3-1-0-0 at Northeast and a solid 6-4-0-0 against the Generals all-time. In the two prior series this season, both at the LECOM Event Center, the Aviators went 2-2-0-0.
THE GENERALS
The Gens are currently treading water, going 5-5-0-0 over their last 10 games and holding on to the second-to-last playoff spot.
Northeast controls its own destiny in clinching a playoff spot this weekend. If the Generals sweep the Aviators, they lock in their spot in the dance.
Northeast is still alive for home ice in the opening round as well, trailing the Maine Nordiques by four points and the New Jersey Titans by five. The Generals have played two fewer games than the Titans.
The Generals possess a potent attack with strong special teams. Northeast is third in the East in goals per game, and it has the second-best power play at over 23.5%.
They have the second-most penalty minutes in the division, but the Gens counter this with the top-ranked penalty kill at over 85%.
The Generals lead the East Division in short-handed goals with 12. Combine that with their strong defense, and the Gens are only a -23 when shorthanded this season.
Northeast has been shorthanded 234 times this campaign, more than any other East Division team, and it is -23 on the kill.
That is the best shorthanded goal differential in the East and second best in the entire NAHL. Only the Minnesota Wilderness, who have only conceded 32 power play goals all season, has a better differential at -22.
This statistic is noteworthy on its own, but it factors into this weekend’s matchup with Elmira’s struggles in conceding short-handed goals. The Aviators have allowed 14 short-handed scores this season, more than anyone in the NAHL.
Elmira will need to be wary of Northeast’s relentless attack in all game situations this weekend.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Northeast: Rich Rucireto (‘05 F)
The return of Rucireto has been massive for the Generals. After piling up 68 points in 59 games last season, the dynamic forward took his talents to the BCHL for the start of this campaign.
Now, Rucireto has returned to the NAHL with the Generals, and playoff hockey is in view. The Staten Island native has hit the ground running in his return to Gens, scoring nine goals and adding nine assists in 15 games thus far.
Like the Generals as a whole, Rucireto can score in all facets of the game. Of his nine scores, four are at even strength, four are on the power play and one is shorthanded.
He hasn’t faced off against Elmira yet this season, but he had great numbers against the Aviators last year. Rucireto had five goals and three assists in six games played against the Aviators last season, including a hat trick on April 4.
Elmira: Andrew Horn (‘07 D)
With the Aviators’ defense surging last week, it makes sense to pick a blue liner for the player to watch. Horn has arguably been Elmira’s best defenseman this season, playing beyond his years with excellent puck movement and hockey IQ.
Horn has four goals and 18 assists this season, leading the Aviators’ defense in points. He plays important roles for Elmira in all facets of the game, including power play and penalty kill.
The Princeton commit has also been great in past matchups against Northeast. Horn has three goals and four assists in nine career games against the Generals. One of those scores was an overtime winner at the LECOM Event Center.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
The Aviators and Generals will face off at the Canton Ice House on Friday, March 27, and Saturday, March 28. Both matchups begin at 7 p.m.
Fans can stream the games on NATV or listen live on WINGZ93. You can also keep tabs on the action by following the Aviators on social media @Elmiraaviatorsnahl.
Mac Young is the play-by-play voice of the Elmira Aviators. To contact him, email [email protected].