GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (38-25-4-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, earned two more crucial points in the South Division standings against the Atlanta Gladiators (24-34-6-2) Thursday night, notching a 4-1 victory at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Swamp Rabbits generated 
three goals in the third period to seal the victory and move closer to a 2017 Kelly Cup Playoff bid.
Both teams generated substantial puck possession time during the first period of play and tallied goals. Rookie forward Evan Jasper recorded his first goal in the pro ranks on a breakaway. Ahti Oksanen broke up a passing play from the Gladiators before turning a pass up the ice to the former Sacred Heart University skater. Jasper went to the backhand and lofted the puck over the outstretched glove of Gladiators goaltender Matt Ginn to open the scoring 12:29 into the game.
The Gladiators responded ferociously and answered the bell 50 seconds later. Ben Marshall caught a clearing attempt on the left side of the blue line. Stepping into a pass across the net, he found Mark Naclerio for a quick spinning move across the crease. In his first game back from the AHL, the center tallied his eighth goal of the season.
A scoreless second period would feature calm play from the goaltenders. Jeff Malcolm turned away 11 shots in the period and would go on to deny all 12 Atlanta shots during the third period in route to a 36 save performance. Malcolm has now won four straight starts and five consecutive at home. Ginn managed to hold down the fort during the second and stop the Swamp Rabbits from scoring on 14 shots, including two power play opportunities.
Rebounds finally broke the Glad’s defense as Tristan King recorded the go ahead goal at the start of the third period. The seventh-year pro fought his way to the front of the net after Tommy Thompson put two shots on the pads of Ginn. King netted the rebound at the top of the crease, giving Greenville the 2-1 advantage with less than 14 minutes left in the games.
King then came back with another goal nearly six minutes later. His 13th goal came by way of a drop pass from Adam Chapie. The newly required forward from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack fed the trailing center who rifled a shot into the net from the top of the left circle.
Ginn came to the bench for the final two minutes of regulation for an extra attacker. Malcolm and the Swamp Rabbits defense held the Gladiators surge at bay. Springing up the ice for an extra tally was Brandon Alderson with less than ten seconds left in the game. The leading goal scorer potted his 24th tally of the season into the empty cage to finish the first of three against the Gladiators.
The Swamp Rabbits and Gladiators meet again Friday night at 7 p.m. The 11th meeting between the I-85 rivals gives Greenville the opportunity to clinch, needing a win and a Cincinnati regulation loss against Fort Wayne. The Swamp Rabbits will also face Atlanta again on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. to wrap up the week.
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