Game Preview: Solar Bears at Stingrays - Feb. 2, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears at South Carolina StingraysVENUE: North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, S.C.DATE: Friday, Feb. 2, 7:05 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: ESPN Orlando (580 AM)

TODAY: The Solar Bears (19-19-5-1) square off against the  South Carolina Stingrays (27-11-4-1), looking to avenge last weekend’s two-game sweep against their division rivals.The Solar Bears hold a 4-2-0-0 edge in the season series over South Carolina.

NEW MONTH: The Solar Bears completed the month of January with a 6-4-1-0 record, and improvement over January of last season, in which the club went 4-5-1-1. This weekend’s pair of games represent two of the three total road matches the Solar Bears play in February, with a season-high 10 games to be played at home. Last season’s squad went 7-4-1-1 in February of 2017.

DZIERKALS LOOKING TO CONTINUE CLUTCH PLAY AGAINST STINGRAYS: After missing last weekend’s pair of games at South Carolina, Martins Dzierkals returned to the lineup on Sunday and scored his third game-winning goal of the season against Atlanta. The rookie forward has also made valuable contributions in games against the Stingrays earlier this season: he scored the tying goal late in regulation that led to a 3-2 come-from-behind shootout win on Nov. 26, and tallied the game-winner in a 4-2 road victory on Dec. 2.

SHUTTING DOWN ZAJAC WILL BE KEY: South Carolina’s Kelly Zajac has been on a tear since last weekend’s pair of games, in which he scored a combined three goals against Orlando; the Stingrays’ forward has scored a total of five goals over his last four games, and also leads South Carolina in scoring against the Solar Bears this season with six points (4g-2a) in six games.

MILESTONES:

• Kale Kerbashian – 2 points from 250 career pro points (91g-157a)

AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies (32-11-0-1) hit the ice for the first time since the AHL all-star break tonight in Rochester as they take on the Americans at 7:05 p.m. The Toronto Maple Leafs (30-18-5-0) blanked the New York Rangers 4-0 on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, and continue their road trip on Saturday night with another Original Six matchup against the Boston Bruins.

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears head to Georgia to face the Atlanta Gladiators on Saturday, Feb. 3 at 7:05 p.m. from Infinite Energy Arena. 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.