TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS HEAD SOUTH TO BATTLE ICEMEN 

TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Head South To Battle Icemen

The fourth contest between Greenville and Jacksonville begins the final week before the ECHL All-Star break.

BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

RABBITS TRACKS
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (17-15-2-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, begin another three-game week on the road, hitting the ice in Jacksonville, Florida tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Swamp Rabbits face the Jacksonville Icemen (9-19-3-2) with sights set on winning the team’s fourth consecutive road game. Jacksonville has been held without a victory in the 2018 calendar year after dropping all four games last week. The Swamp Rabbits are 2-1-0-0 against the Icemen this season and won their only contest at Veterans Memorial Arena.
BACK TO BUSINESS
The Swamp Rabbits returned the team’s leading scorer to the roster on Monday afternoon. Forward Caleb Herbert rejoins the Swamp Rabbits for the first time since Dec. 16 where he earned an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen. The Bloomington, Minnesota native tallied 36 points (16G, 20A) in 23 games before his call-up to the Hartford Wolf Pack. While in the AHL, the 6-foot, 195-pound skater earned three points (1G, 2A) in eight contests. The Swamp Rabbits are 13-8-2-0 with Herbert in the lineup this season. Herbert is also the only top-10 scorer in the ECHL to play fewer than 29 games in the league this season.

ROAD-SWEET-ROAD?
In 15 road games this season, the Swamp Rabbits have collected a 9-5-1-0 record. Greenville has averaged 3.67 goals per game when visiting other team’s arenas. The team will face a Jacksonville squad that has been more comfortable on home ice this season, averaging 3.5 goals per game at Veterans Memorial Arena this season.

ROTATING CREASE
Greenville suffered its only loss against Jacksonville in their last meeting. Icemen netminder Austin Lotz earned his first career shutout with 36 saves on Dec. 22. After going 5-0-1-0 in six straight starts, Lotz has seen the net just once in the last four games and was pulled after allowing four goals on 19 shots. Goaltenders Jamie Phillips and Colton Phinney have played a bulk of the time since the New Year. In 2018, the three Jacksonville netminders have combined for a 0-4-0-0 record, .859 save percentage, and 3.99 goals against average.

SOUTH DIVISION DOMINATED SCHEDULE
The Swamp Rabbits and Icemen will face off 10 times this season. Jacksonville’s first season in the ECHL has been highly dominated by divisional games, playing only four contests against outside of the South. Jacksonville is 7-17-3-2 against South Division teams this season and 2-2-0-0 in their remaining games. Greenville, on the other hand, has played the 22 games against the South Division. Only Norfolk has played fewer divisional games than Greenville, who have earned an 11-9-1-1 record against the South. Both Greenville and Jacksonville will play 33 more games against the South Division this season.

CARROT BITES

• Since their last meeting on Dec. 22, the Swamp Rabbits are 2-3-0-1 and the Icemen are 2-4-1-0.
• Tonight is Greenville’s 36th game of the season, completing the first half of the regular season. Last year the Swamp Rabbits were 18-15-2-1 through 36 games.
• Defenseman Joe Houk is fourth among blueliners this season with 26 points (8G, 18A) in 31 games.
• Icemen forward Elgin Pearce has tallied three goals in three games against Greenville.
• Jacksonville is the most penalized team in the Eastern Conference this season.

SCARF GIVEAWAY NIGHT | Friday, January 12 | 7:00 p.m.
The Swamp Rabbits are offering the first 1,000 fans a free Swamp Rabbits Scarf when they walk in the door on Friday, Jan. 12. The Swamp Rabbits take the ice against the Orlando Solar Bears at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit SwampRabbits.com or grab a Bon Secours Family Fun Pack.

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