TRUST: GAME PREVIEW: SWAMP RABBITS at STINGRAYS, 3:05 PM 

BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits are slated to rematch the South Carolina Stingrays this afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum. It’s the third meeting this season between the in-state rivals, with each of the last two contests being decided in overtime or a shootout.

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (1-3-0-1) at South Carolina Stingrays (3-0-1-0)
December 27, 2020 | 3:05 PM | Game #6 | North Charleston Coliseum
Referees: Logan Gruhl (29)
Linesmen: Phil Ruesseler (73), Daniel Iulianello (65)

ECHL STANDINGS

Broadcast Information:
WATCH LIVE: https://www.flohockey.tv/
LISTEN LIVE: https://mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits

LAST TIME OUT:
Last night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Swamp Rabbits erased two separate one-goal deficits before ultimately dropping a 3-2 shootout decision to the Stingrays. Dylan Steman started the scoring for South Carolina only 2:30 into the game, but Nick Poehling answered at the 6:13 mark to draw even. Next period, Mason Morelli scored unassisted for the Rays, but Samuel Jardine scored his first goal of the season on a center-point blast to tie the game. Seven minutes of sudden-death overtime solved nothing, and the game progressed to the Swamp Rabbits’ first shootout of the season. Andrew Cherniwchan and Dan DeSalvo scored for South Carolina in the skills competition, and Hunter Shepard made saves on all four shootout attempts to hand SC the 3-2 win.

TWIN MAGIC:
Last night, the Poehling twins connected on the score sheet to help Greenville to a standings point. At 6:13 of the first period, Nick Poehling made a run towards the backdoor and finished a perfect slap pass from twin brother Jack Poehling. Jack also earned the secondary assist on Samuel Jardine’s strike next to his first professional multi-point game. Nick Poehling has two goals in five games this season for Greenville after scoring a career-best eight times in 34 games with St. Cloud State in 2019-20. Jack Poehling mirrors with two assists in five games and is also coming off a career senior season with St. Cloud State after recording 20 points (nine goals, 11 assists) in 34 games.

60 MINUTES, NOT ENOUGH:
In only two meetings this season between the Swamp Rabbits and Stingrays, both have been decided down to the very final shot. Greenville traveled to North Charleston Coliseum and spoiled the Stingrays Opening Night on December 11 in a 3-2 overtime final. Ben Finkelstein tied the game in the third period at 2-2 and later provided the overtime heroics to lift Greenville to a 3-2 win. Last night’s game story was nearly identical, with another 2-2 game requiring extra time. Goaltender Ryan Bednard and Hunter Shepard combined for 15 saves in sudden-death, including a penalty shot save by Bednard on Max Novak to keep the game alive. In 10 meetings last season between the Rabbits and Rays, only three were decided by one goal, and two required extra time.

2020 IN REVIEW:
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits will officially close the storybook on the year 2020 after today’s game. Entering today, the Swamp Rabbits 2020 record stands at 15-16-4-1 with a chance to pull even at .500. Last season, the Bits finished the season with a 14-13-4-0 record in games from January 2 to March 8. Highlights from 2020 include a four-game winning streak from January 15 to January 20 bookended by a pair of overtime victories over Norfolk and Atlanta.

LOOKING AHEAD:
Looking ahead, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits will play on New Year’s Day for the first time since January 1, 2012. Greenville and South Carolina will kick off 2021 with their fourth meeting of the season on New Year’s Day at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Swamp Rabbits will welcome the Wheeling Nailers, ECHL affiliate for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to the Upstate on January 6, 2021, for Wednesday night hockey. Shortly after, Greenville will hit the road for a back-to-back set against the Indy Fuel on January 8-9, 2021.