TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS AND STINGRAYS MEET FOR KIDS DAY 

TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits and Stingrays Meet for Kids Day

Greenville offers fans the opportunity to claim up to four free kids’ tickets for tonight’s game against South Carolina.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

RABBIT TALES
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-38-7-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, reignite the intrastate rivalry tonight at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Swamp Rabbits and South Carolina Stingrays (45-16-7-1) meet for the 11th time this season, beginning a two-game set of contests in The Upstate. Greenville and South Carolina last faced off on Mar. 9 at the North Charleston Coliseum as the Swamp Rabbits notched a 3-2 victory. Greenville has taken three victories over the second place Stingrays this year and forced three additional games into overtime.
TWO-PLAYER SWAP
On Tuesday, Swamp Rabbits forward Evan Jasper earned the first call-up of his career, joining the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL. The rookie posted 50 points (21G, 29A) this season, leading the club this season and ranking seventh among all first-year skaters in the ECHL. However, on Thursday morning forward Caleb Herbert returned to the team from a stint with the San Jose Barracuda. The winger was promoted to the AHL on Feb. 12 and produced four points in 14 AHL games in San Jose. The Bloomington, Minnesota native has had a breakout season in the ECHL, notching 47 points (20G, 27A) in 35 games with the Swamp Rabbits.

EXCITING MATCHES
The Swamp Rabbits and Stingrays have played nearly every game close to the vest in their head-to-head matchups. In 10 games between the clubs, seven have resulted in one-goal efforts and four games have needed overtime or the shootout. All three of Greenville’s victories over the Stingrays have ended in one-goal decisions. Twenty-nine of the Swamp Rabbits games this season (42%) have been decided by one goal, while the Stingrays have played 38 one-goal contests (55%).

STEADY AT HOME
Four of the last five games at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena have resulted in points for the Swamp Rabbits. Greenville topped the Jacksonville Icemen in back to back games on Mar. 23 and 24 and forced overtime finishes with Orlando on Mar. 11 and South Carolina on Mar. 6. Greenville has played just 16 home games since the start of the new calendar year and just nine in the last two months. All four games that Greenville has earned wins have been decided by just one goal.

FINAL WEEKEND AT HOME
Greenville enters the final week of games on home ice this season. The Swamp Rabbits have been fantastic in the last seven years in their final week at home. Greenville has earned a 7-3-1-1 record in those games dropping their only three regulation contests to South Carolina from 2011-2013.

DEFENSEMAN IN AND OUT
The Stingrays have added defenseman Andrew DeBrincat to the roster today. The rookie has played just one game in the ECHL after completing his senior season at American International College. The blue liner made his pro debut with the Indy Fuel on Mar. 17 but joined the Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL for five additional games in the last two weeks. The Stingrays defenseman helps replace the loss of Marcus Perrier who was suspended for eight games by the ECHL on Tuesday after Saturday’s contest in Jacksonville.

CARROT BITES

• Joe Basaraba is one point away from tying his best single-season point production of 46 points (21G, 25A) in 2016-17.
• Caleb Herbert has averaged 1.34 points per game this season, second-most in franchise history by a player with 30 games played (Brendan Connolly – 2011-12 | 1.40 PTS/Game).
• Steven Whitney leads the Stingrays with eight points (3G, 5A) in seven games against Greenville.
• The Stingrays have allowed the least amount of goals this season, letting just 149 into the net (2.16 GA/Game).
• Goaltender Parker Milner has played 13 of the last 18 games for South Carolina.

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