GAME DAY: Everblades vs. South Carolina - Nov. 28

ESTERO, Fla. — The Florida Everblades (9-5-3-0, 21 pts.) start a six-game homestand with the first tilt of a three-game series against the South Carolina Stingrays (10-8-0-0, 20 pts.) at 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. 

VITALS:Game 18: Everblades vs. South CarolinaWhen: 7:30 p.m. ETWhere: Hertz ArenaTickets: TicketmasterWatch: ECHL.tvListen: WJBX Social: Twitter | #SCvsFLA

Last Time OutFlorida picked up a standings point in a 5-4 overtime setback against the Norfolk Admirals in the finale of a three-game set on Saturday night in Norfolk, Virginia, to earn five of six possible points in the series with the Admirals. Tommy Thompson, Derek Sheppard, Kyle Platzer and Shane Walsh scored as the ‘Blades finished with a 4-2-1-0 record on the season-high seven-game road trip. South Carolina finished its Thanksgiving week schedule with a pair of 3-2 wins over Orlando and Atlanta on Nov. 21 and Nov. 23, respectively. The Stingrays lost to Jacksonville, 3-2, on Nov. 20 to start their three-game week. 

​​​​​​Players to WatchKyle Platzer (FLA) – Platzer increased his goal streak to four games with his tally in the series finale against Norfolk, giving him the longest goal streak for an Everblades player this season. The former Edmonton Oilers draft pick has 10 points (5g, 5a) in a five-game point streak.  

Grant Besse (SC) - The Plymouth, Minnesota, native leads South Carolina and is tied for eighth in the ECHL in scoring with 22 points (12g, 10a). His 12 goals put him in a tie for second in the league in that category. He has goals in back-to-back games entering Wednesday.  

Key notes

• Wednesday night is the second of the eight meetings this season between Florida and South Carolina and the first of three meetings at Hertz Arena. The two teams have faced off on 187 occasions, making South Carolina the Everblades' most-played opponent in team history. Florida holds a 99-67-21 all-time record against the Stingrays.   
• Despite firing the third-most shots on goal per game (34.3) in the ECHL, South Carolina ranks just 13th in goals per game (3.17).   
• Since being shutout on Nov. 16 against South Carolina, Florida has exploded for 29 goals in its last five games for an average of 5.8 goals per contest. Following the 1-0 loss to the Stingrays, the Everblades ranked 20th in the league in goals per game (2.75). Entering Wednesday, Florida is fourth in the league in that category, averaging 3.65 goals per tilt.  
• The Everblades have put together an impressive month of November so far, compiling a record of 7-2-2-0 to climb into a tie for second place in the South Division.  
• With at least one power-play goal in three of its last four games, Florida has improved its power-play conversion rate to 21.2 percent (11-for-52), the third best rate in the ECHL. However, Florida has struggled at home on the man advantage, scoring on just two of its 17 opportunities (11.8 percent).   
• With an assist on Saturday, Joe Cox stretched his point streak to five games to match his season-high. He is 10th in the league in scoring (21 pts.) and is second in plus-minus rating (+15). The Michigan State University product has 10 points (3g, 7a) in his point streak.   
• Jordon Southorn and Steven Lorentz also carry five-game point streaks into the series opener with South Carolina. Southorn has one goal and seven assists in his streak to move him to third in the league in defensemen scoring (15 pts.). Lorentz has nine points (3g, 6a) in his streak and is second on the team in points per game (1.23).   
• Florida is an ECHL-best +14 in the second period this season. The next closest team is Fort Wayne at a +10 in period two. Florida has been outscored in the second period just twice this season, one of which came against South Carolina on Nov. 16.   
• Jeremy Helvig started against South Carolina on Nov. 16 and matched his season-low by yielding just one goal in a 27-save performance. He was busy in the second period of that contest and made 15 saves on 16 shots. At the time, that save total was a single-period high for an Everblades goaltender.   
• Just two days after that performance against South Carolina, Helvig was regularly tested in the first period on Nov. 18 against Atlanta, finishing the frame with 18 saves on 19 shots. That save total is a single-period high for an Everblades goaltender this season. He finished with a career-high 37 saves in the game, another season-high for a Florida goaltender.   

Next UpAfter a day off on Thursday, the Everblades resume the series with South Carolina on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. before the series finale on Saturday night at 7 p.m. 

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Single-game tickets for all regular season home games are on sale now!Ticket packages for the 2018-19 season are still on sale! Become part of the Everblades Family with a Partial Season or a Flexible Voucher Package that fits your schedule and budget! All Ticket & Voucher Packages provide savings and special benefits! To view the Ticket & Voucher Package options CLICK HERE. SPECIAL OFFER! Purchase a new ticket package for the 2018-19 season and receive a $20 gift card to Ford’s Garage and an Everblades T-Shirt!Private Arena Tours are also available to select your 2018-19 season seats! Call the Everblades office at 239-948-7825 to schedule your tour today! 

The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes