Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
March 31, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release
WHO: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits
VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.
DATE: Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m.
WATCH: ECHL.TV
LISTEN: ESPN Orlando (580 AM)
TICKETS: CLICK HERE
TONIGHT: The Solar Bears (32-28-6-3) complete their 2017-18 regular season home schedule tonight against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (23-37-7-1). The Solar Bears and Swamp Rabbits have identical 4-3-1-0 records against each other - the winner of tonight's game will take the season series. Greenville has not visited Orlando since a two-game set in November.
PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Solar Bears have clinched a spot in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs and will compete in the postseason for the fourth time in franchise history. Orlando sits in third place in the South Division, with a six-point cushion on fourth-place Atlanta (at Florida) - the Solar Bears only need one point out of their remaining three games to lock up the third seed. If the playoffs were to begin today, Orlando's opponent in the South Division Semifinals would be South Carolina.
NOVAK PACES SOLAR BEARS: Forward Max Novak leads Orlando with nine points (3g-6a) through seven games against the Swamp Rabbits. The forward picked up his 54th point of the season on Thursday with an assist against Jacksonville.
HEETER TO PASS MASSA: Cal Heeter is expected to get the start tonight against Greenville. When he takes the ice, he will pass Ryan Massa for the most games played by a Solar Bears goaltender in a single season with his 42nd appearance. Heeter sports a 2-2-1 record with a 2.91 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage this season against Greenville.
POWER ON: Orlando's power play has been exceptional against Greenville this season, converting on 13-of-42 chances for a 30.95% clip. The Solar Bears are also coming off a 2-for-9 performance against the Icemen on Thursday.
STREAKS:
Martins Dzierkals - 2-game assist streak
MILESTONES:
Kale Kerbashian - 3 goals from 100 in professional career
Sean Zimmerman - 3 points from 100 in professional career
Hunter Fejes - 2 goals from 50 in professional career
AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies (49-18-1-1) rolled to a 3-2 win over the Manitoba Moose on Friday and square off in a rematch this afternoon. The Toronto Maple Leafs (46-24-6-1) picked up a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers last night, and in the process set a new franchise record for wins in a season. Toronto picked up a 5-4 win over the New York Islanders last night, and return home tonight to host the Winnipeg Jets.
NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears hit the road to close out the 2017-18 regular season, as they face the Atlanta Gladiators on Friday, April 6 at 7:35 p.m. at Infinite Energy Arena.
PLAYOFF TICKETS: The Orlando Solar Bears have clinched a berth in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Continue to check orlandosolarbearshockey.com for information regarding the on-sale date for tickets for the Kelly Cup Playoffs or visit ticketmaster.com.
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ECHL Stories from March 31, 2018
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- Fuel's Playoff Push Rolls on in 5-1 Rout of Fort Wayne - Indy Fuel
- IceMen Get Past Stingrays in Final Matchup - South Carolina Stingrays
- Cyclones Cannot Hold off Walleye - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Wings Slowed by Admirals' Goaltending - Kalamazoo Wings
- IceMen Rout Rays - Jacksonville Icemen
- Walleye Clinch Central Division - Toledo Walleye
- Late Comeback Falls Short as Glads Drop 4-2 Decision to Everblades Saturday Night - Atlanta Gladiators
- Special Teams Lead Railers to 7th Straight Home Win at DCU Center in Front of Big Crowd - Worcester Railers HC
- Nailers Win 5-2 on Fan Appreciation Night - Wheeling Nailers
- Thunder Dominant in 6-2 Win over Reading - Adirondack Thunder
- Reichenbach Makes 46 Saves as Admirals Clip Wings 2-1 - Norfolk Admirals
- Piacentini Records First Pro Point in Beast Loss to Railers - Brampton Beast
- Swamp Rabbits Downed by Solar Bears - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Monarchs Fall to Nailers, 5-2 - Manchester Monarchs
- Royals Outflanked by Thunder, 6-2 - Reading Royals
- Game Preview: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Orlando Solar Bears
- French Reassigned to Steelheads - Idaho Steelheads
- Spencer reassigned to Adirondack in advance of tonight's game - Adirondack Thunder
- ECHL Transactions - March 31 - ECHL
- Nailers vs. Monarchs Game Day Snap Shot, March 31 - Wheeling Nailers
- Cyclones Game Notes: vs. Toledo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Steelheads Game Day Storylines vs Utah - Idaho Steelheads
- Mallards Game Day - Quad City Mallards
- Florida Trip Wraps up for Swamp Rabbits in Orlando - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Game Day: Admirals Wrap up Weekend Series with Wings - Norfolk Admirals
- Game Day Preview: Allen vs. Colorado - Allen Americans
- Gameday - Adirondack (38-22-3-4) vs. Reading (37-23-8-0) - Adirondack Thunder
- Monarchs Game Day Capsule, March 31 - Manchester Monarchs
- Sholl Rolls and Steelheads Win Sixth Straight - Idaho Steelheads
- IceMen Close out Stingrays Series - Jacksonville Icemen
- Royals Seek Second in the North Division with Win over Thunder - Reading Royals
- Mallards Fall in Overtime - Quad City Mallards
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- 'Blades Power Past Swamp Rabbits 5-3 - Florida Everblades
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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