TRUST: GAME PREVIEW – SWAMP RABBITS vs. STINGRAYS
BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits return home and conclude a back-to-back set tonight against the South Carolina Stingrays. Last night, South Carolina blanked Greenville 2-0 at the North Charleston Coliseum and ended the Rabbits’ historic, 12 game point streak.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (6-4-5-2) vs. S.C. Stingrays (9-3-3-0)
Feb. 4, 2021 | 7:05 PM | Game #18 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Referees: Andrew Bruggeman (25)
Linesmen: Tarrington Wyonzek (88), Shane Gustafson (87)
Thirsty Thursday’s ($3 Natural Lights during pregame)
Broadcast Information:
WATCH LIVE: https://www.flohockey.tv/
LISTEN LIVE: https://mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits
LAST TIME OUT:
Greenville’s 12 game point streak concluded last night in a 2-0 road loss to the South Carolina Stingrays. Scoreless through 40 minutes, Tim Harrison scored his first goal of the season for the Rays at 6:35 of the third period. Jesse Lees added an insurance marker for South Carolina at 11:42 to round out a 2-0 final on the road. The final marked the first time Greenville was held off the scoreboard this season and the first shutout since Jan. 25, 2020, at Orlando.
HADDAD FOR 600:
Swamp Rabbits captain Joey Haddad will skate in professional game #600 tonight. The Sydney, Nova Scotia native, made his professional debut in the 2009-10 season and split time with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and Wheeling Nailers. Haddad has totaled 64 games of American Hockey League experience (three goals, eight assists), 246 ECHL games (85 goals, 94 assists), and 289 games in the United Kingdom with the Cardiff Devils across six seasons (108 goals, 138 assists). Before playing overseas, Haddad captained the Gwinnett Gladiators in the 2013-14 ECHL season. Before turning pro, the 32-year-old played two seasons for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles and Prince Edward Island Rocket in the QMJHL from 2005-2009.
LOTS OF FIRSTS FOR SOUTH CAROLINA:
Greenville will seek revenge after the Stingrays posted their first shutout victory of the season. Former Swamp Rabbit Jake Kupsky earned the start in goal for the Rays and stopped all 20 Greenville shots for his first career ECHL clean sheet. Tim Harrison’s eventual game-winning goal in the third period was his first of the season, and Jade Miller’s primary assist marked his first professional point. Jesse Lees’ insurance tally at 11:42 was also his first goal of the season.
SPECIAL TEAMS SCOUT:
The Swamp Rabbits power play enters 10-for-68 (14.7%) on the 2020-21 campaign, ranked 7th in the ECHL. On home ice, the Greenville has been limited to 3-for-37 on the man-advantage (8.1%) but have scored in their last two home games (Ben Finkelstein on 1/30, Patrick Bajkov on 1/31). On the penalty kill, Greenville enters Thursday night 67-for-83 (80.7%), ranked 10th in the ECHL. On home ice, the Bits’ PK is 38-for-46 (82.6%) and ranked 8th. South Carolina has struggled on the power play away from the North Charleston Coliseum with a 2-for-35 (5.7%) road success rate. On the kill, the Rays are 28-for-33 (84.8%), ranked 6th in road games this season. Ben Finkelstein leads Greenville with two power play goals, and Dylan Steman leads South Carolina with three.
TIDBITS:
The Swamp Rabbits are 3-1-5-1 in their last ten games…Samuel Jardine is tied for third in the ECHL scoring race with 17 points and leads the league in assists…Rays’ Max Novak leads the league in shorthanded assists with two…Jake Kupsky has started four consecutive games for the Stingrays. He is now fourth in the ECHL in goals-against-average (2.25)…Ryan Bednard leads all ECHL goaltenders in minutes (614) and saves (281)…Greg Meireles is second among ECHL rookies in scoring with 14 points (four goals, ten assists)…Ben Finkelstein’s four goals lead all ECHL defenseman.
#RABBITSRISING#
SINGLE GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of professional hockey in the United States! Single Game Tickets are available to purchase today here.
