Eastern Conference Finals Preview

#2 Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs. #4 South Carolina StingraysSeries Matchup Sheet

An intrastate matchup between the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and South Carolina Stingrays will determine the Eastern Conference representative in the 2021 Kelly Cup Finals. Both teams have been riding hot streaks through the end of the regular season and into the postseason with the Swamp Rabbits posting a 16-6-1 record over their last 23 games while the Stingrays are 17-7-1 in their last 25 outings.

Greenville is appearing in the Conference Finals for the first time since 2014 and defeated Indy 3 games to 1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, allowing just six goals in the four games. Graham Knott led the Swamp Rabbits in the opening series with four points (2g-2a) while Ryan Bednard went 2-1 with one shutout, a 1.35 goals-against average and a save percentage of .959.

South Carolina is making its seventh all-time appearance in the Conference Finals after eliminating Brabham Cup champion Florida in the opening round, winning the final two games on the road. Cole Ully (3g-2a) and Dan DeSalvo (1g-4a) are tied for the playoff lead with five points each. Hunter Shepard posted a 3-2 record in the Conference Semifinals and ranks third with 118 saves.

Greenville went 9-3-3 in the regular-season series against the Stingrays while South Carolina went 6-4-5. Eight of the 15 head-to-head meetings were decided in either overtime or a shootout, with an additional two games decided by one goal in regulation. Max Zimmer led Greenville in the season series with five goals and shared the team lead with Matt Bradley with 10 points while South Carolina was paced by Justin Florek’s four goals and Caleb Herbert’s 10 points.

The winner of the Eastern Conference Finals receives the E.A. “Bud” Gingher Memorial Trophy. The trophy is named in recognition of E.A. “Bud” Gingher, who was Chairman of the ECHL Board of Governors from 1992-95. Gingher, who passed away in 2002, co-founded the Dayton Bombers in 1991 and owned the team for seven seasons, serving as President and Governor until selling the team in 1998. Gingher was inducted into the ECHL Hall of Fame in 2009.

Game 1 – Wednesday, June 16 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South CarolinaGame 2 – Friday, June 18 at 7:05 p.m. ET at GreenvilleGame 3 – Saturday, June 19 at 7:05 p.m. ET at Greenville Game 4 – Monday, June 21 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina (If Necessary)Game 5 – Wednesday, June 23 at 7:05 p.m. ET at South Carolina (If Necessary)