Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Swamp Rabbits - Dec. 30, 2016

Solar Bears Game 31 • Home Game 17 • ECHL Game 404

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (17-10-3-0) vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-12-2-0)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Friday, Dec. 30, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Visit our website or download the new Solar Bears mobile app to listen to the game via MixlrPROMOTION: Coors Light Countdown to New Year’s – Purchase BOGO tickets for tonight’s game for as little as $16! Visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com/coors to take advantage of this offer for tonight and tomorrow’s matches against Greenville.TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears close out the 2016 calendar year with the first of two games against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. This is the first evening home game for the Solar Bears against the Swamp Rabbits after coming away with a 7-4 victory during the team’s School Day game on Nov. 17 in Drake Berehowsky’s return behind the bench for Orlando.

KASKISUO EXPECTED TO START:Goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo got his first win of the season against Greenville back in early November, and since his Dec. 6 victory over the Swamp Rabbits, the rookie netminder has posted a 4-1-1 record and has had five outings of 32 saves or more. He will get his first start since Dec. 21 at Florida.

HEAD-TO-HEAD SPECIAL TEAMS ALMOST IDENTICAL:Through their five meetings against each other this season, the Solar Bears and Swamp Rabbits are nearly carbon copies against each other where special teams are concerned. Orlando is 5-for-24 (20.8%) on the man advantage against Greenville, while the Swamp Rabbits are 5-for-25 (20%).

BAIER DISHING THE PUCK:Eric Baier leads Orlando with five assists against Greenville this season, accounting for over 40% of his assists in 2016-17. The veteran defenseman has recorded 19 points (2g-17a) in 28 career games played with Orlando against the Swamp Rabbits.

BROUILLARD LEADING ROOKIE BLUELINERS:With another goal in Tuesday’s performance, rookie defenseman Nikolas Brouillard has found the back of the net five times this season, which ties him for the league lead among first-year blueliners along with Idaho’s Travis Walsh and Toledo’s Matt Caito. Of the three, Brouillard (5g-10a) is the only one to make the league’s Top 20 in points by a defenseman.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 3-1-1-0Home: 1-0-0-0Road: 2-1-1-02015-16 Overall: 5-4-0-02015-16 Home: 3-1-0-02015-16 Away: 2-3-0-0Last 5 Years: 22-14-1-3Last 5 Years Home: 14-4-0-3Last 5 Years Away: 8-10-1-0

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Manderson  – 32Goals: Perry – 17Assists: Manderson – 22+/-: Manderson – +15PIM: Miller – 39SOG: Faille – 116

BEAR TRACKER

• Crane: Two points from 100 career ECHL points (53g-45a)
• Manderson: Two points from 100 points with Orlando (32g-66a)

STREAKS

• Brouillard: 2-game goal streak (2g)
• Faille: 2- game point streak (1g-1a)
• Watling: 2-game assist streak (3a)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies visit the Albany Devils tonight, while the Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off of a 3-2 overtime victory at Tampa Bay last night and return to Toronto in preparation for their outdoor meeting with the Detroit Red Wings in the Centennial Classic on New Year’s Day.

NEW APP:The Solar Bears have released a brand-new mobile app, presented by BB&T, giving Solar Bears fans everything they need right in their pocket. The app is also home to the brand-new Loyalty & Rewards Program, which provides Solar Bears fans with opportunities to accumulate points and redeem them for exclusive prizes. The new app is FREE and available for both iOS and Android devices.

NEXT HOME GAMES:

• Coors Light Countdown to New Year’s – Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Saturday, Dec. 31 - 4 p.m.
• Solar Bears vs. Manchester Monarchs - Tuesday, Jan. 3 - 7 p.m. – Only 2016-17 regular season meeting against North Division-leading Manchester
• Military Appreciation Night & Patriotic Jersey – Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - Saturday, Jan. 21 - 7 p.m.

Single-game tickets are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com. Full and half-season ticket plans are now available by visiting OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com.