MANCHESTER, NH – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2-3-1-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, concluded a four-game road trip on a high note, earning a 4-1 victory against the Manchester Monarchs (3-3-0-1) at SNHU Arena. Goaltender Ty Rimmer was the biggest star on the ice in the win as he made a career high 50 saves and earned his first win of the season. Grenville’s response evened the weekend series and pushed Greenville to a pair of wins during the week.
The Swamp Rabbits were on the defensive side of the puck during the opening period. Rimmer made a plethora of saves including two early Manchester power plays and odd man rushes up the ice. The fifth-year netminder would make a total of 15 stops in the first period, while the Swamp Rabbits took the momentum into the second period.
Greenville amped up it’s play and turned 18 shots on net in the middle frame, thanks in part to a slew of power play time. Three Manchester penalties and one Greenville infraction put the Swamp Rabbits on a 4-on-3 power play which turned to an extended 5-on-3 man advantage chance at 8:14 of the second. Although Greenville controlled the play and sent a variety of shots at goaltender Evan Cowley, the Monarchs managed to keep the game scoreless.
Forward Adam Chapie had a response following the power play time. The second-year winger set himself in front of the net as Dawson Leedahl fired a shot. Chapie deflected the puck into the net to tally his team leading fourth goal of the season and break the scoreless tie at 14:44. Greenville would head into the break with the lead.
Manchester finally broke Rimmer in the third period. On a two-on-one the Cory Ward launched a shot off the glove of the Swamp Rabbits netminder, bouncing right to the waiting stick of Sam Kurker to slam home the rebound. His second of the season tied the game less than three minutes into the final period.
On the most unlikely chance of the game, Austin McKay would collect the eventual game-winning goal. Cowley got caught sleeping in net less than 20 seconds after the goal from Kurker. Jack Nevins tossed the puck lightly toward the net and the goaltender left the puck sitting in the crease. McKay came in hard on the puck and potted his first career game-winner on his first goal this season.
Insurance came for Greenville later in the period as Allan McPherson netted his third goal of the year on a breakaway pass from Curt Gogol. Gogol then added another for the Swamp Rabbits just past the 10-minute mark on the power play. The tap in came on a rebound from Joe Houk’s initial shot on net to help ice the game.
Greenville finished the night 1-for-8 on the power play and were flawless on the penalty kill, stopping all five of the Monarchs chances. With 32 shots on net, Greenville bested the Monarchs rookie goaltender, who ended the game with 28 saves. Cowley is 0-2-0-1 to start the season. Rimmer earns his first win with his 50-save performance, improving to a 1-1-0-0 record.
Greenville returns home after earning four points in the South Division Standings and will prepare for three straight games at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Wednesday morning at 10:30 a.m., the Swamp Rabbits host the Kansas City Mavericks before the South Carolina Stingrays and Jacksonville Icemen come to town on Friday and Saturday nights.
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