Tosti: Round Three Between Swamp Rabbits and Stingrays Tonight
Greenville hosts its in-state rival for the second time this season, wrapping up a 3-in-5 against South Carolina this week.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
| DATE | TIME | OPPONENT | FOLLOW |
| Thur, Dec. 7 | 7:00 p.m. (ET) | vs. South Carolina Stingrays | Listen – Watch – Twitter |
RABBITS TAILS
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (12-8-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, and the South Carolina Stingrays (11-4-3-1) take the ice tonight at 7 p.m. at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Greenville has traded games with the Stingrays in two straight meetings with their rival. Tonight’s rubber match pits one of the ECHL’s top offenses against one of the top defenses. The Stingrays have allowed only 52 goals against this season, tied for second-fewest in the league, while Greenville’s 89 goals are more than any other club. Greenville plays for the second consecutive Thursday night and will be at home for the next three Thursday nights as well. The Swamp Rabbits are 2-0-0-0 in Thursday games this season and are 9-2-0-0 in the last two years.
PLENTY OF MEETINGS THIS YEAR
Greenville will play the South Carolina Stingrays more than any other opponent this season. The Swamp Rabbits play 12 games against their intrastate rival this season and will drop the puck for the sixth time tonight. In the first five games, Greenville has produced a 2-2-1-0 record against the Stingrays and won its only game on home ice. The Swamp Rabbits will play the Stingrays two more times later this month. The teams will not meet again until Mar. 6 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.JACK’ED UP
Forward Jack Nevins has tallied a point in each of the last three games including a pair of goals. The streak for the Stittsville, Ontario is tied for the longest in his ECHL career. Last season, Nevins posted 24 points (11G, 13A) in 61 games with the Quad City Mallards and led the team with 122 PIMS. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound winger has tallied eight points (2G, 6A) and 79 PIMS in 22 games. Nevins ranks seventh in the league among penalty minute leaders and leads the ECHL with nine major penalties.
FINDING HIS MC-WAY
Center Austin McKay has scored goals in back-to-back games for the second time in his ECHL career. The Toronto, Ontario native has recorded seven points (4G, 3A) this season, more than doubling his career ECHL point production. The 6-foot-5 skater played 16 ECHL games prior to signing with Greenville and recorded six points (4G, 2A) with Rapid City, Brampton, and Atlanta. Before turning pro, McKay played 103 NCAA games and earned 30 points (11G, 19A) in four seasons at Lake Superior State University.
NEW MAN ON THE BLOCK
Forward Derek Sutliffe joined the Swamp Rabbits before Tuesday night’s game in North Charleston. The rookie forward began the season with the Mississippi RiverKings in the SPHL and notched 14 points (7G, 7A) in 13 games before earning his first call-up to the ECHL. The Las Vegas, Nevada native signed a try-out agreement with the Swamp Rabbits before the season began, and played in two preseason games. Prior to turning pro, Sutliffe played four seasons at the College at St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.
TRENDS KEEPING DIVISION TIGHT
The Swamp Rabbits have played the last nine games without a win in regulation. The team has posted a 3-5-1-0 record since Nov. 18 after completing a franchise record eight-game win streak. The Swamp Rabbits three wins came in overtime or the shootout. South Carolina has also been on an odd trend. The Stingrays have compiled a 4-3-1-1 record in the same stretch after beginning the season 6-1-2-0. The Palmetto State teams have faced each other three times since Nov. 18. Greenville is currently tied for second in the South Division with Atlanta and South Carolina with 26 points. Six different Eastern Conference teams have earned 26 points this season.
CARROT BITES
- The Swamp Rabbits have earned a 6-3-1-0 record at home on the Sandlapper Securities rink.
- Greenville has scored more goals than any ECHL team this season, averaging over four goals per game.
- Forward Branden Troock has scored six goals and added two assists in the last five home games.
- Stingrays defenseman Danny Federico scored his first goal since Oct. 21, 2015 (141 game drought) on Tuesday night.
- Caleb Herbert is Greenville’s, and the ECHL’s, top scorer with 33 points (15G, 18A) and Joe Devin leads the Stingrays with 17 points (5G, 12A).
THIRSTY THURSDAY | TONIGHT, December 7 | 7 p.m.
We are throwing ticket prices back TONIGHT for Thirsty Thursday presented by Harbor Inn. Grab two tickets for $20 and enjoy our Hoppy Hour specials including $3 domestic beer from 5-8 p.m. (Due to unfavorable weather, Hoppy Hour will begin in the atrium near the patio outside section 106).
WINTER WONDERLAND PACKAGE
The Swamp Rabbits are offering a Winter Wonderland experience! Get your four tickets for the team’s Dec. 23 game, four passes to Ice on Main, and a Dave and Buster’s gaming package, a $140 value for only $65! The package is ONLY available for purchase through the Swamp Rabbits office at (864) 674-PUCK or online at SwampRabbits.com.
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