GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Florida Everblades jumped out to a 2-0 second-period lead, but fell victim to three unanswered goals and came up on the short end of a 3-2 overtime decision to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Saturday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, settling for just one point in the ECHL standings.
The first two periods were as different as different could be. Despite outshooting the
Swamp Rabbits 16-5 over the first 20 minutes, neither side could break through before the first intermission. The dearth of goals on both ends of the ice would end once the puck dropped on the second period.
Scoring in the second period started early and came often, with Florida netting the first two goals of the contest. Zach Tsekos struck first with a shorthanded tally at 1:14 for his second marker of the season and Wilmer Skoog followed in short order with his first professional goal, as the Everblades jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the 5:37 mark.
Not the gracious hosts, Greenville responded quickly with a J.D. Greenway goal at 6:36 that halved the Blades’ lead to 2-1. Six minutes later, the Blades’ first multi-goal lead of the series would be erased, as Tyler Inamoto converted at 12:40 to pull the Swamp Rabbits even at 2-2 heading into the second intermission.
Defense would once again be the standard in a scoreless third period, with Florida outshooting Greenville 12-11 and sending the game into overtime. The Everblades would play past 60 minutes for the second time this season, while the Swamp Rabbits went into extra time for the first time in the campaign.
Greenville’s Bobby Russell scored the overtime game-winner at 4:29 of overtime to claim a second point for the Swamp Rabbits.
Evan Cormier (2-1-1-0) registered 31 saves in goal for the Everblades, while Ryan Bednard (3-0-0-0) turned aside 38 shots for the Swamp Rabbits.
You must be logged in to post a comment.