Sports stats



ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Preview: Swamp Rabbits Open 2016 with a Pair in Manchester

January 2, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


THE STORY COMING IN

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-12-5), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, open the 2016 portion of their schedule this afternoon with a 3 p.m. faceoff against the Manchester Monarchs. Greenville enters today's contest on a season-long, six-game point streak (4-0-2) and with points in eight of its last nine games overall. On Thursday, the Swamp Rabbits battled back from a two-goal deficit with a pair of power-play tallies in the final four minutes, but fell in overtime, 3-2, when Gasper Kopitar scored the game-winner for the Monarchs. Jordan Knackstedt and Scott Fleming each scored for Greenville, while Mackenzie Skapski stopped 27 shots in net. The Swamp Rabbits are just four points behind South Carolina for third place in the South Division, and five points behind Atlanta for second.

THE MATCHUP

Today's contest marks the second of three matchups between the Swamp Rabbits and Monarchs this season. All three games will take place in Manchester, New Hampshire over a four-day span. Manchester currently leads the season-series 1-0-0.

VIEW FROM MANCHESTER

Led by head coach Richard Seeley, the Monarchs are currently first in the East Division with 41 points and second in the Eastern Conference overall. The club enters today's contest with two straight wins, including Thursday's overtime victory and a 2-0 shutout against Adirondack last Sunday. Offensively, Maxim Kitsyn has scored in two consecutive games, while Matt Leitner continues to lead the club with 29 points, which also puts him in a tie for ninth in the league's overall scoring race. The rookie also leads all first-year players in assists (22) and is tied for second in points. Manchester spent each of the last 14 years in the American Hockey League as the top farm team of the Los Angeles Kings. The Monarchs are the defending AHL Calder Cups champions.

UPCOMING MILESTONES

Sean Escobedo is one point from his 50th professional point and two games from his 150th pro appearance... Rob Kwiet is three points from his 200th pro point and five games from his 400th pro appearance... Scott Fleming and Ryan Rashid will each play their 100th ECHL game this afternoon... Bretton Cameron is five penalty minutes from his 600th pro penalty minute.

SKAPSKI'S RETURN

Goaltender Mackenzie Skapski was reassigned to Greenville by the New York Rangers on Wednesday following a 10-game stint with AHL Hartford this season. Skapski, 21, has played three games with Greenville this season (0-2-1), and made his pro debut with the club in October of 2014. He went on to become the team's sixth graduate to reach the NHL when he debuted for the Rangers on Feb. 20, 2015, and posted a 2-0-0 record with a 0.50 goals-against-average, .978 save percentage and one shutout in two appearances (both at Buffalo).

GOING STREAKING

Rookie forward Richard Nejezchleb has had the hot stick for Greenville lately, recording nine points (3g, 6a) in his last nine games since Dec. 10 against Orlando. In addition, the Czech Republic native has collected points in four straight road games and notched at least one point in every one of the team's road games during the month of December.

QUICK HITS

The Swamp Rabbits are tied for fifth with 3.13 goals per game... The club has eclipsed the six-goal mark seven times this season, and six times since Nov. 25 alone... Greenville is 15-2-2 when scoring at least three goals, 12-1-3 when scoring at least once on the power play and 10-1-2 when leading after the second period... The Swamp Rabbits have not scored first in five straight games, since Dec. 19 against Orlando... Ryan Rashid (1g, 2a) and Jordan Knackstedt (1g, 2a) have each produced points in three straight games.

AFFILIATE REPORT

New York Rangers (21-13-4, 3rd Metropolitan): Next at Florida - Tonight, 7 p.m. ET

Hartford Wolf Pack (14-16-2, 6th Atlantic): Next vs. Albany - Tonight, 7 p.m. ET

WATCH LIVE

Fans can follow all of today's action live through ECHL.TV and the free Mixlr audio stream. The Swamp Rabbits' Official Road Watch Party Destination, the Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House on Beacon Drive, will also carry the game on three television screens beginning at 3 p.m. today.

Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits all season long and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team's official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Trolley On Over: Greenville's downtown trolley route has been extended to include a stop at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The expanded route will operate for all Swamp Rabbits' games taking place Thursdays through Sundays during normal trolley service hours.

Call 864-674-7825 or visit SwampRabbits.com for tickets. Bring a group of 15 or more out to a game and receive great discounts, merchandise offers and hospitality opportunities! Call a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive for more information! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear at the "Hop Shop" team store or visit the "Hop Shop" online at SwampRabbits.com/shop to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties!

Check out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from January 2, 2016


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.

OurSports Central