WHEELING, WV – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (6-5-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, upset the Wheeling Nailers (9-4-2-0) 3-2 in overtime Saturday night as Joe Houk earned his second overtime winning goal this season. Paul Zanette earned the game-tying goal in the third period, helping the Swamp Rabbits to their sixth overtime game this season.
In one of the fastest goals in Greenville history, Angelo Miceli gave the Swamp Rabbits a 1-0 lead in the first period. Miceli’s fourth point in two games came when he scored 18 seconds into the contest. The shot from the right circle, snuck in past the unsuspecting J.P. Anderson in net for the early Greenville lead. The rink wide pass to Miceli came from Spiro Goulakos who assisted on each Greenville goal. The second year defenseman from Montreal, QC has a four game point streak totaling seven points (1G, 6A).
The period remained a back and forth effort in the remainder of the first period. The Swamp Rabbits skated into the first intermission with the advantage thanks to Jeff Malcolm who denied a game high 13 shots. Malcolm earned his second straight win with 31 saves including a miraculous pair of game-saving stops in overtime.
The Nailers took over the lead in the second period, scoring two goals less than two minutes apart. Jordan Kwas made it rain stuffed animals in the Nailers Teddy Bear Toss game followed by Josh Shalla taking the lead for Wheeling.
Michael Joly continued his offensive output to help the Swamp Rabbits tie the game. The rookie forward took the puck to the front of the net where, in the scramble for a rebound, Zanette scored his fifth of the season. The Nobleton, ON native is tied with Brandon Alderson for the team lead in goals.
Houk has made both of his goals this season count for the Swamp Rabbits. The third year defenseman sprinted through center ice like a shot out of a cannon. From the left circle he beat the Nailers defense and Anderson under the blocker to end the game 2:13 into the overtime period. The Richboro, PA native has three game winners in his ECHL career.
The Swamp Rabbits will face the Nailers Sunday night at 5:05 p.m. from the WesBanco Arena to finish their busy week. It will be the fourth game in five days for Greenville who is just two games away from finishing a seven game road trip.
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