Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Swamp Rabbits - March 4, 2017

Solar Bears Game 58 • Home Game 32 • ECHL Game 773

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (28-20-6-3) vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits (32-20-4-1)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Saturday, March 4, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Listen on MixlrTICKETS: Click herePROMOTION: Noche Latina presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson – Club level game tickets can be as purchased for as low as $10 at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/FIESTA courtesy of Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson. The festivities will begin on Church St. starting at 5 p.m. with Rumba 100.3 FM and Telemundo on hand with music and games prior to the 7 p.m. puck drop. The Solar Bears will wear special Noche Latina jerseys to be auctioned following the game, and the game presentation will feature Latin music and promotions throughout the evening. The first 3,000 fans to enter the Amway Center on Saturday night will also receive special Solar Bears thunder sticks.

TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears conclude their regular season series with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits. Although Orlando will not be able to finish the season with more head-to-head wins against Greenville, the Solar Bears still have the opportunity to tie the Swamp Rabbits in head-to-head points with a regulation win tonight, and pull back to within two points of their opponents in the South Division standings.

FAILLE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE OF CEPIS’ FRANCHISE MARK:Thanks to a four-point effort on Thursday, Solar Bears alternate captain Eric Faille reached the 50-point plateau for the second consecutive year, joining Jacob Cepis as the only two ECHL Solar Bears to do so. The third-year pro is only two points away from tying Cepis’ franchise mark of 112 for the most career points in a Solar Bears uniform. In 98 career games with Orlando, Faille is already the franchise’s all-time goals leader with 42, and is third in assists with 68, behind only Cepis (77) and Denver Manderson (75).

DANFORD CONTINUES STRONG PLAY:Defenseman Ben Danford was the lone player for Orlando who finished Friday’s contest with a positive plus-minus rating on Friday, recording a +2 while also logging two assists. The blueliner has six points (2g-4a) and is +9 over his last eight games.

BUBELA FINDING SCORING TOUCH:Not only did Milos Bubela set a new season-high while with Orlando with two power-play goals on Friday, but the rookie forward also tied Chris Crane for the team lead in shots on goal in the game with eight attempts; that represented a new season-high for Bubela after joining Orlando in late January.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 5-4-2-1Home: 3-1-1-1Away: 2-3-1-02015-16 Overall: 5-4-0-02015-16 Home: 3-1-0-02015-16 Away: 2-3-0-0Last 5 Years: 24-17-2-4Last 5 Years Home: 16-5-1-4Last 5 Years Away: 8-12-1-0

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Faille – 50Goals: Perry – 29Assists: Faille – 32+/-: Danford – +19PIM: Miller – 68SOG: Perry – 170

BEAR TRACKER

• Baier: Two points from 100 career Solar Bears points (32g-66a)
• Faille: Two points from tying Jacob Cepis (112) for franchise all-time points leader (42-68=110)
• Massa: 26 saves for 2,000 in his Solar Bears career

STREAKS

• Conacher: 4-game assist streak (4a)
• Faille: 5-game point streak (3g-9a)
• Massa: 2-game win streak (2-0-0)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies take on the St. John’s IceCaps today at 5 p.m. The Toronto Maple Leafs are idle today and return to action at home when they face the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday.

APP:The Solar Bears mobile app, presented by BB&T, gives 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 app is FREE and available for both iOS and Android devices.

NEXT HOME GAMES:

• Solar Bears vs. Utah Grizzlies – Friday, March 10 – 7 p.m. – Star Wars Night
• Solar Bears vs. Utah Grizzlies – Sunday, March 12 – 1:30 p.m. – FAIRWINDS Solar Bears Sunday
• Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades – Wednesday, April 5 – 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.