Morning Tea: Swamp Rabbits vs Solar Bears (12/08/21 -7:05PM)

Greenville Swamp Rabbits (7-7-1-1) vs. Orlando Solar Bears (11-7-1-0)

December 8, 2021 | 7:05 PM | Regular Season Game #17

Referees: Nolan Bloyer (31)Linesmen: Shane Gustafson (87), Brady Fagan (89)

TICKETS: https://bit.ly/3GqYQ9c

BROADCAST INFORMATIONPregame Coverage begins at 6:45pmLISTEN: Greenville Swamp Rabbits Broadcast NetworkWATCH: FloHockey Live StreamVoice of the Swamp Rabbits Mark Shelley on the call

SOLAR BEARS SEASON SERIES 

Season Series Record:Overall: (0-0-0-0) Home: (0-0-0-0) Away: (0-0-0-0)

Last Meeting: May 10, 2021: Greenville 1 at Orlando 0

Next Meeting: January 1, 2021: Greenville vs Orlando

QUICK BITS

SUNDAY NOT-SO-FUNDAY:

The Swamp Rabbits and the South Carolina Stingrays met for the third day in a row and needed a third consecutive overtime game to decide the outcome. The Swamp Rabbits struck first with Frank Hora’s first goal of the season, but were quickly answered by Dominick Sacco’s snipe to tie the game at 1-1. Into the overtime period, the Rabbits took a penalty and were force to kill off a 4-on-3 situation in the sudden death frame. Stingrays Captain Andrew Cherniwchan tipped the puck into the back of the net to secure the two points from the game and 5 points for South Carolina on the weekend, while Greenville settled on 4 points. 

WAIT, HOCKEY HAS HOW MANY PERIODS?:

Sunday’s overtime loss came on the back-end of a weekend that saw all three games against the Stingrays decided beyond regulation. Greenville, entering into Wednesday’s game against Orlando, has played in 4 consecutive OT games, all against South Carolina. Over that span, the Swamp Rabbits are 2-0-1-1 and have totaled 16 goals. 

CUGLIETTA ON CRUISE:

Diego Cuglietta has done nothing but dazzle in his time with Greenville. Cuglietta has 13 points (6G, 7A) in nine games since joining the team November 9th. Of those nine games Cuglietta has a point or more in seven. In the three-game set with the Stingrays this past weekend, Cuglietta totaled 5 points (2G, 3A) during his first two games of the matchup. 

SOMETHING IN THE CHARLOTTE WATER:

Forward Max Zimmer, currently third on the Swamp Rabbits in scoring with 11 points (5G, 6A), has earned a pair of advancements to the AHL level this season. Both times, after signing a PTO with the Charlotte Checkers, Zimmer has appeared in one game for Greenville’s affiliate. While the two trips to the AHL haven’t netted Zimmer any points, his returns to Greenville certainly have, as Zimmer has scored in both of his first games back with the Rabbits. Prior to his first advancement, Zimmer had yet to record a point this season, but recorded 10 of his 11 before his most recent promotion. 

SCOUTING THE SOLAR BEARS:

Orlando has a 11-7-1 record, sitting in first place in the South division. The leading scorer for the Solar Bears is Aaron Luchuk with 9G and 13A, although his last goal came six games ago on 11/17 against Florida. Braydon Barker scored two on Thursday against the Icemen, his only two goals this season. Barker also recorded an assist this season, coming 10/29 against Atlanta. Two goalies have split the majority of the action for Orlando. Brad Barone is 7-3 in 11 games, allowing 1.93 goals against, boasting a .945 S7%. Rookie Zach Emond has seen action in seven games, holding a 4-3 record, 3.89 GAA and.863 SV%.

WHAT ON TAP:

After their one-off-meeting with the Solar Bears on Wednesday, the Swamp Rabbits travel to Jacksonville to square-off with the Icemen for the third time this season and first time since November 11, a 3-1 home victory for the Swamp Rabbits. 

The following day, Greenville will travel to Gas South Arena to take on the Atlanta Gladiators, seeking revenge for their 4-3 defeat at the hands of the Glads on Thanksgiving night. The following day, Sunday afternoon, the Gladiators and Swamp Rabbits will meet again but at Bon Secours Wellness Arena to round-out the weekend.