Game Preview: Solar Bears at Stingrays - Jan. 27, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears at South Carolina StingraysVENUE:  North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, S.CDATE: Saturday, Jan. 27, 7:05 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: OSB Radio on Mixlr  

TONIGHT: The Solar Bears (18-18-5-1) will look to split their weekend series with the South Carolina Stingrays (25-10-4-1) following last night’s 3-1 loss. The Solar Bears are 4-1-0-0 against the Stingrays this season.

SKAPSKI LIKELY TO GET FIRST START AGAINST ‘RAYS: Goaltender Mackenzie Skapski will likely get his first start of the season against South Carolina tonight after Cal Heeter got the nod in goal on Friday. Skapski has won his last two consecutive appearances, and over his last five games has gone 4-1-0 with a 2.92 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage.

DEFENSE STILL STRONG: Despite Friday’s loss, the Solar Bears still maintain a 9-1-1-0 record on the road when allowing three or fewer goals. If Orlando can hold South Carolina to that threshold, it significantly increases the likelihood of a victory tonight for the Solar Bears.

SEIZING SECOND PERIOD LEAD WILL BE CRUCIAL: One trend that has also been consistent this season on the road for the Solar Bears is the team’s performance through the first two periods of play – when Orlando has taken a lead into the second intermission on the road this season, the Solar Bears have gone 7-0-0-0.

MILESTONES:

• Kale Kerbashian – 2 points from 250 career pro points (91g-157a)
• Alex Gudbranson – 3 points from 50 career pro points (12g-35a)

AFFILIATE NOTES: Jean Dupuy scored and Garret Sparks made 31 saves for his fourth shutout of the season as the Toronto Marlies (31-11-0-1) blanked the Rochester Americans 2-0 on Friday. Toronto battles the Syracuse Crunch before the AHL all-star break begins. The Toronto Maple Leafs (28-18-5-0) return to action on Wednesday, when they host the New York Islanders.

NEXT GAME:  The Solar Bears complete their three-in-three weekend set tomorrow, Sunday, Jan. 28 against the Atlanta Gladiators at Infinite Energy Arena at 2:05 p.m. The Solar Bears return home to play the Florida Everblades on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center at 7 p.m. Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com.

About the Orlando Solar Bears:The Orlando Solar Bears are in their sixth season of operation in the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America, and are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. The Solar Bears are owned and operated by the Orlando Magic and the DeVos Family, and play at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Fighting Four Packs, presented by CenturyLink, are now available for purchase! Pick four games and get gift certificates to Sonny’s BBQ, Dick’s Sporting Goods, QDOBA Mexican Eats and a FREE center ice ticket to the our Hockey Fights Cancer Night game, presented by XYMOPRINT on Saturday, Feb. 17! Packs start as low as $64 and include $68 in FREE gifts! Click here or call (407) 951-8200 for more information.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/shop.