Game Preview: Stingrays at Swamp Rabbits, March 17 at 7:05 PM

GAME PREVIEW: SC Stingrays at Greenville Swamp RabbitsMarch 17, 2023 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena | 7:05 PMBroadcast Info: Watch live on FloHockey | Listen via MixlrRadio pre-game coverage starts at 6:45 p.m.Complete Stingrays Game Notes

The South Carolina Stingrays complete a five-game road trip tonight as they head to upstate for a Friday night battle with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. This evening’s contest is the front end of a three-in-three weekend for South Carolina.

LAST TIME OUTThe Stingrays and Icemen traded off goals in Wednesday night’s matchup with Jacksonville tying the game at three goals apiece with 7:30 remaining in regulation. Austin Magera netted the game-winner with just over two minutes left on the clock before Ryan Scarfo iced the game in the final minute. Jackson Leppard, Justin Florek, and Michael Kim provided the first three goals of the contest and Tyler Wall picked up his 14th win of the season behind a 24-save performance.

ALL-TIME SERIESSouth Carolina has an overall record of 93-48-16-11 in 168 all-time regular-season meetings with the Swamp Rabbits. The Stingrays have fared well against Greenville this season, winning four of the first seven matchups. South Carolina won the first two games at Bon Secours Wellness Arena this season before falling in the last two contests in Greenville. The two teams will square off three more times this season, with each game taking place in the Upstate.

SCOUTING THE SWAMP RABBITSGreenville is currently tied for third place in the South Division and sits a point behind the Stingrays entering tonight’s game. Forward Alex Ierullo leads the Swamp Rabbits and is fourth in the ECHL with 70 points and 47 assists. Ierullo is also tied with Tanner Eberle for the Rabbits lead with 23 goals scored. Former Stingray Ryan Bednard has been their go-to goaltender since rejoining the team, posting a 12-8-1 record and leading Greenville in both goals against average and save percentage.

MAGNIFICENT MAGERARookie forward Austin Magera joined the Stingrays last week ahead of the Florida Everblades series out of Sacred Heart University where he was coached by former Stingrays Head Coach, Steve Bergin. In the first three games against the Everblades, Magera tallied one assist and had several prime chances to net his first goal. Taking on the top-seeded Jacksonville Iceman this Wednesday, Magera answered the call with his first career goal and added two assists for his first-ever multi-point night of his young career.

THE FINAL MONTHThe ECHL is officially within 30 days of completing the 2022–23 regular season. South Carolina currently sits in second place in the toughest division in the league where the difference between first and sixth place is only 10 points. The Stingrays’ magic number officially sits at 19 points yet they might have the toughest stretch left. 12 of the final 14 games for South Carolina are against teams currently in the playoffs including two against the Jacksonville Iceman, three against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and two against the Florida Everblades, all of whom are competing with South Carolina in the South Division.

Upcoming 5-Game ScheduleSavannah at South Carolina – Saturday, March 18 at 6:05 p.m.Jacksonville at South Carolina – Sunday, March 19 at 3:05 p.m.Maine at South Carolina – Saturday, March 25 at 6:05 p.m.Maine at South Carolina – Sunday, March 26 at 3:05 p.m.South Carolina at Cincinnati – Friday, March 31 at 7:35 p.m.

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