Game Preview: Solar Bears at Swamp Rabbits - March 11, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears at Greenville Swamp RabbitsVENUE: Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, S.C.DATE: Sunday, March 11, 3 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: OSB Radio via Mixlr

TODAY: The Solar Bears (29-26-5-1) rematch with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (21-33-6-1) this afternoon to complete a three-game road trip. Orlando owns a 3-3-1-0 record against the Swamp Rabbits this season after skating to a dominant 7-1 victory on Saturday night.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Orlando sits in third place in the South Division, with a five-point cushion on fourth-place Atlanta (idle today), with one game in hand. The magic number for the Solar Bears to earn a spot in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs currently sits at 12, and could drop with an Orlando win today and/or a Jacksonville (at South Carolina) loss.

GOALS GALORE: So far in this season series, both teams have each scored 27 goals (3.43 goals for per game) against each other; for comparison, the Solar Bears’ season average is 2.95 goals for per game. Orlando has twice enjoyed seven-goal outings against Greenville

MONFREDO ON VERGE OF PRO GAME 400: Should veteran defenseman Mike Monfredo suit up in today’s game, the blueliner will be lacing up his skates for his 400th career regular season game. Monfredo has been a portrait of consistency over his six seasons of pro hockey, as he has never missed more than seven games in a single campaign. This season, his first with Orlando, Monfredo’s 20 points are second in scoring among Solar Bears defensemen and his 119 penalty minutes lead the club.

PHILLIPS PILING UP POINTS: Defenseman Adam Phillips is also enjoying a strong March for the Solar Bears. The 6-foot-6 blueliner has four points (2g-2a) in four games to begin the month, which ties him for the team lead, and his +5 for March also leads the club.

STREAKS:

• Max Novak – 3-game point streak (2g-2a)
• Adam Phillips – 2-game point streak (1g-1a)

MILESTONES:

• Mike Monfredo – 1 game played from 400 in career
• Hunter Fejes – 2 assists from 50 career pro assists
• Joe Perry – 3 goals from 50 with Solar Bears

AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies (41-16-1-1) became the first team in the AHL to clinch a berth in the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs on Saturday with a 4-3 win over the Providence Bruins. The Toronto Maple Leafs (40-22-6-1) offense was firing on all cylinders on Saturday night as well, as the Orlando’s NHL affiliate earned a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

NEXT GAME: Orlando returns home to face the Florida Everblades on Thursday, March 15 in a Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game. 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.

Fiesta 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 our Noche Latina game, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson on Friday, March 23 against the South Carolina Stingrays! 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.