PREVIEW: 'Blades face Swamp Rabbits, eye sixth straight win

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Riding a season-high five-game winning streak, the Florida Everblades (21-8-2-2, 46 pts.) close out a stretch of three games in three days with a matchup against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (17-17-0-1, 35 pts.) on Sunday afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. 

VITALS:Game 34: Everblades at Greenville Swamp RabbitsWhen: 3 p.m. ETWhere: Bon Secours Wellness ArenaWatch: ECHL TVListen: WJBX (101.5 FM, 104.3 FM, 770 AM)Social: Twitter | Instagram

Last time outZach Magwood scored two goals, including the game-winning strike, and finished with three points, and Ken Appleby made 31 saves to lead the Everblades to a series sweep of the South Carolina Stingrays with a 5-3 win on Saturday at North Charleston Coliseum. Trailing by two goals in the first period, Florida scored five of the final six goals of the game to hand the Stingrays consecutive losses for the first time this season. Levko Koper (1g-1a), Joe Pendenza (1g-1a), and Logan Roe (2a) also had multiple points in the win. RECAP | BOX SCORE

Series At A GlanceSunday is the fourth of 11 meetings between the Everblades and Swamp Rabbits this season. Florida won the only previous meeting in Greenville this year, a 3-0 victory on Sunday, Nov. 17, which was also Florida's first shutout of the season. The 'Blades hold an all-time record of 55-32-15 against Greenville. Florida had a 16-game winning streak in the series before the Swamp Rabbits earned a 5-3 win at Hertz Arena on Dec. 20.

Players to WatchZach Magwood (FLA) - Magwood matched his career-high with his three-point night on Saturday and leads the Everblades with eight multi-point games this season. The second-year pro has registered points in seven of his last nine games and has 13 points (7g-6a) and four multi-point games in that stretch.  

Michael Pelech (GVL) - The Swamp Rabbits captain is tied for second on the team in scoring with 25 points (8g-17a) this season. The 11th-year pro has points in three straight games (1g-2a) entering Sunday afternoon. He finished fifth in the ECHL last season with 47 assists and has piled up 513 points (161g-352a) in 676 career ECHL games. 

Lots of ShotsThe ‘Blades established a new season-high by firing 20 shots on goal in the second period on Saturday. Florida had put up 19 shots on goal in a period twice this season, with the most recent occurrence coming on Oct. 19 against the Norfolk Admirals. In outshooting South Carolina, 39-34, on Saturday, Florida has now outshot its opponent in seven consecutive games. 

Picking up SteamSince going without a win in six out of seven games from Nov. 22-Dec. 6, the Everblades have completely reversed their fortune. With the victory on Saturday, Florida extended its winning streak to a season-high five games. The Everblades now have wins in nine of their last 11 games and points in 10 of their last 11. Florida's five-game winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the ECHL behind Newfoundland's six-game winning streak. 

Tip-Top TomGoaltender Tom McCollum has been stellar for the Everblades through his first two starts. With his 24-save effort on Friday, the 11th-year pro has turned aside 47 of the 48 shots he has faced in an Everblades jersey, which is good for a save percentage of .979. His shutout on Friday was his first of the season and the fourth of his ECHL career. McCollum's last blank slate in the ECHL came on March 26, 2011, a 7-0 win for the Toledo Walleye over the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Amherst, New York, native has 15 shutouts in his pro career.  

Next UpThe Everblades return to Florida for a Tuesday night home game against the Brampton Beast. Faceoff is set for 7:30 p.m. in the first meeting between the teams since Feb. 2017. 

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The Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and AHL's Milwaukee Admirals