The South Carolina Stingrays open a two-game weekend series against the Florida Everblades at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida. South Carolina enters the ECHL matchup with a 7-1-0-0 record and 14 points, while Florida is 8-1-0-0 with 16 points.
The game is a postseason rematch after the Florida Everblades eliminated the South Carolina Stingrays in five games in last season’s South Division Finals. Both teams enter the weekend in the top three of the South Division standings, and Friday’s matchup is the first of nine meetings between them this season.
South Carolina Stingrays Bring Strong Start Into Rematch
South Carolina brings its best start since 2019-20 into the series after sweeping the Orlando Solar Bears in a two-game set last weekend. The Stingrays won 4-1 on Friday and 3-0 on Saturday, outscoring Orlando 7-1 overall.
Garin Bjorklund made 29 saves in the 3-0 victory. South Carolina is 3-0-0-0 at home this season after completing a four-game home stand before the trip to Florida.
The teams are scheduled to meet again at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at Hertz Arena. South Carolina is also scheduled to host the Greensboro Gargoyles on Nov. 20 at 7:05 p.m. at North Charleston Coliseum for Ray-Con Night.
Florida Everblades Continue Fast Start
Florida has won eight of its first nine games and enters the series with four consecutive victories. The Everblades completed a three-game sweep of the Jacksonville Icemen last weekend and are 3-0-0-0 at home this season.
Florida’s only loss was a 5-4 defeat against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Oct. 30 in Greenville. The Everblades have allowed one or fewer goals in seven of their nine games.
Goaltender Cam Johnson leads the ECHL with seven wins this season, including two shutouts. His 1.37 goals-against average ranks first among goaltenders with at least three starts, while Devon Paliani leads Florida with nine points and seven goals.
Recent Series History Favors Florida
The Florida Everblades went 5-0-1 against the South Carolina Stingrays last season and outscored them 23-8. South Carolina’s only regular-season win in the series was a 2-1 overtime victory on Jan. 24 in North Charleston.
Florida then eliminated South Carolina in five games in the South Division Finals. The Nov. 13 game begins this season’s nine-game series.
MSB Analysis
South Carolina enters the matchup with a 7-1-0-0 record and momentum from its sweep of the Orlando Solar Bears. Florida also has a strong early-season record at 8-1-0-0, but the verified standings place both teams in the top three of the South Division rather than identifying either team as a division leader.
Source: Original report
