ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (30-27-4-0 / .525) battle the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (27-25-4-3 / .517) in the first of two weekend games tonight at 7 p.m at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center. Orlando snapped a five-game winless stretch on Thursday with a 4-3 overtime victory against the Florida Everblades, jumping ahead of Greenville into fourth place in the South Division. Orlando needs to earn at least a point tonight to stay ahead of Greenville; the Swamp Rabbits earned a 2-1 win on Wednesday vs. Trois-Rivières.
Tonight's game is also Teacher Appreciation Night, presented by First Watch, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Night.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Orlando is 1-2-1-0 against the Swamp Rabbits this season with three games remaining against Greenville.
- Tristin Langan leads the Solar Bears against the Swamp Rabbits with four points (1g-3a) in four games; the forward has 1g-2a in his last two contests.
- Alexei Melnichuk is expected to get his second consecutive start after making 23 saves in his Solar Bears debut last night.
- Ross Olsson, acquired from the Worcester Railers on Thursday, is expected to make his Solar Bears debut tonight; the forward is tied for second in the ECHL with 10 power-play goals.
- The Solar Bears are 17-7-4-0 in games decided by one goal this season.
- Orlando is 13-4-2-0 when scoring a goal in the first period on home ice.
- Greenville is paced by Liam Pecararo in scoring with 44 points (20g-24a). Evan Fitzpatrick has earned all three wins against Orlando for Greenville; the goaltender exited Wednesday’s game against the Lions after the first period and did not return; Fitzpatrick was relieved in net by John Lethemon.
NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears conclude the weekend when they host the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Sunday, March 27 at 2 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center for Hockey Fights Cancer, presented by AdventHealth. Sunday’s game also is a VyStar Solar Bears Sunday. VyStar Credit Union members can score a pair of free tickets to the game – learn more by visiting vystarcu.org/solarbears.
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