GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (8-3-1-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, awoke with a goal to extend their winning streak against the Atlanta Gladiators (7-4-0-1) at Middle School STEM Day at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Greenville fed off an early lead and never relinquished control of the game, topping its I-85 rival 6-3 Wednesday morning. The ECHL’s top offense has now scored at least six goals in five games this year and average 4.75 goals per game. The Swamp Rabbits win halted Atlanta’s eight game point streak and pushed Greenville to seven straight victories for the first time since the inaugural season.
The Swamp Rabbits were powered by exceptional performances from Allan McPherson, Joe Houk, and Caleb Herbert who combined for 11 points (4 goals, 7 assists) in the contest. The three earned honors as the stars of the game, helping Greenville to solidify it’s final four goals of the game.
Forward Branden Troock would get the morning started less than six minutes into the game. Joe Basaraba won the faceoff right back to the Swamp Rabbits winger at the top of the left circle. Shooting the puck while sliding to the high slot, the Edmonton, Alberta native tucked his attempt through the legs of Gladiators goaltender Dan Vladar for his fifth goal this season. Atlanta’s netminder suffered his second loss of the season after making 36 saves.
Power plays would become a factor for both teams as the ensuing four goals would be scored on the man advantage, and six of the nine goals in the game were on the power play. The first came from Greenville’s blue line as off another faceoff, Evan Jasper sent a pass to Houk and then to the right side for Brenden Kotyk. The rookie defenseman tossed a shot to the net that found the inside of the left post to extend the advantage at 13:28.
After the intermission, the Swamp Rabbits and Gladiators would trade blows on the power play. Ben Marshall recorded his second goal of the season from Lindsey Sparks and Ben Danford at 4:55 after repeated blocks by the Swamp Rabbits penalty kill.
Greenville took less than four minutes to respond on a power play of their own. McPherson was in the right place to play a rebound in the right circle after Houk launched a shot from the high slot. Rookie defenseman Sergey Zborovskiy was credited with an assist on the goal that pushed Greenville up 3-1. Atlanta would cut the lead down to just one goal with Sparks’ first goal of the season less than two minutes later.
The pace was controlled by the Swamp Rabbits right from the start of the third period. Herbert cashed in the eventual game winning goal just 46 seconds into the final frame. McPherson picked off a pass between the Gladiators defense and touched it to the center for a short breakaway. The Bloomington, Minnesota native tucked his backhand shot just under the cross bar earning his sixth of the season.
His seventh of the year came at 13:11 of the third after Atlanta had netted a goal on a scramble in front of the crease. Greenville power play extended to 3-for-10 in the game as McPherson’s shot from the right circle right to Herbert at the bottom of the left circle. Atlanta’s power play unit also finished the game with three power play goals on nine chances this morning.
The final nail was slammed home by McPherson to cap his third four-point game of the season. The ECHL’s leading scorer was fed by Herbert on a backdoor pass with less than four minutes to play in the game and netted his seventh goal this season. McPherson has recorded 22 points (7 goals, 15 assists) in 12 games this year and is followed by Herbert with 19 points (7 goals, 12 assists). Herbert has recorded a league leading 12-game point streak, netting a tally in each of Greenville’s games this year.
The physicality of the rivalry amped up in the final two minutes of the game. Tensions flared between the teams causing two fights and resulting in 20 penalty minutes doled out. Greenville and Atlanta combined for a season high 74 penalty minutes in the contest. The Swamp Rabbits win also featured 42 shots on net and goaltender Ty Rimmer earning his fifth straight victory with 28 saves.
The Swamp Rabbits and Gladiators will meet again on Dec. 8 and play 11 total games this season. Greenville prepares for a home showdown with Orlando on Friday at 7 p.m. before heading to North Charleston on Saturday night. After facing the South Carolina Stingrays, the Swamp Rabbits again will face Orlando at 3 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.
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