ECHL Weekend Watch: Heavyweights Meet For First Time This Season

It's always exciting when the top two teams in the standings get together in an early-season matchup. How do they stack up against one another? A litmus test, if you will.

The Toledo Walleye sit atop the Western Conference standings with a 7-3-1-0 record, but tied with the Kansas City Mavericks.

The Walleye enter this weekend having won two of its last three games, including a pair of wins against Kalamazoo and Cincinnati last weekend. Most recently, though, Toledo dropped a 4-1 game to the Indy Fuel on Wednesday.

Toledo forward Brandon Hawkins is off to a great start this season. The ECHL's 2023-24 MVP has four goals in his last three games, including a hat trick last weekend against the Wings.

Meanwhile, Norfolk sits atop the Eastern Conference standings at 6-2-3-0. Like Toledo, the Admirals have a slight edge on their second-place adversaries, Savannah and Florida.

Norfolk has collected points in their last nine games, with three contests requiring overtime.

Forward Brady Fleurent has points in eight of his last nine games, including a career-high four assists in Norfolk's recent 6-5 win over Reading.

Reading Royals vs. Adirondack Thunder

The Reading Royals will look to get back on track this weekend, albeit it will not be easy.

The Royals have dropped two straight coming into this weekend, and eight of their last ten.

Todd Skirving has been a solid addition to Reading's lineup this year. The veteran forward already has five goals and eight points in 13 games.

Meanwhile, the Adirondack Thunder have won four of their first six games.

The Thunder split their series with Norfolk last week, picking up an overtime win on Friday before falling in regulation on Saturday.

Jeremy Brodeur has been among the ECHL's best goaltenders, owning a 1.30 goals-against average and .951 save percentage, to go along with one shutout.

Fort Wayne Komets vs. Kalamazoo Wings

Fort Wayne has been red-hot to start the season, winning seven of their first nine games.

The Komets topped the Wings in their most recent matchup after storming back from a two-goal deficit.

Kyle Mayhew leads all ECHL defensemen with 13 points in only nine games played.

On the other hand, Kalamazoo will look to stack a few wins together after going 5-4-0-0 in their first nine games.

Most recently, the Wings topped the Cyclones in overtime.

Defenseman Collin Saccoman already has seven points and is second among ECHL defensemen in plus/minus (+13).

Wichita Thunder vs. Iowa Heartlanders

The Thunder are off to a good start this season, having collected points in seven of its last ten games.

However, Wichita is looking to back on track after dropping its last three, including an overtime loss to Kansas City on Wednesday night.

Forward Michal Stinil is tied for the most points (17) in the ECHL through the first 11 games. The Czechia native will look to extend his three-game point streak.

Meanwhile, the Heartlanders have points in six of their last ten games and boast a two-game win streak.

Iowa picked up a pair of wins against Bloomington and Kansas City in their most recent outings.

Matthew Sop is tied among ECHL rookies in points (13) and has the second-most goals (5).

Tulsa Oilers vs. Tahoe Knight Monsters

The Oilers have points in seven of their first ten games, good for a fourth place standing in the Western Conference.

Tulsa took both games on the road against Allen and Wichita this past weekend.

Sasha Pastujov is settling into his first ECHL season, having collected 13 points in his first 10 games.

On the other side, Tahoe has had an impressive start to its inaugural season.

The Knight Monsters have points in six of their first eight games, including a 4-0 shutout over these Oilers in their most recent outing.

Tahoe is led by forwards Simon Pinard and Bear Hughes, who each have 12 points in their first eight games.