GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (4-3-1-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, have now won three straight hockey games after Friday’s 3-2 victory against the South Carolina Stingrays (4-1-0-0). The Swamp Rabbits dealt the Stingrays their first loss of the season by tallying three unanswered goals. Joe Houk had the last laugh in the game by netting two goals, including the game-winner with just over two minutes to play in the third period.
The game was close and physical right from the get-go. After a few battles early on, Trevor Gillies and Jack Nevins set the tone for the remainder of the night. The two heavyweights dropped the gloves at 6:30 of the first period and set the crowd and benches ablaze. Greenville and South Carolina continued to trade blows for over 12 minutes before a goal was scored finally scored. Nick Johnson put the Stingrays on top with his second goal of the season as he bounced to the slot and fired a shot toward the net.
Travis Walsh would extend the advantage in the second period with an unconventional power play goal. The defenseman went nearly goal line to goal line, eventually sending a backhanded shot past Swamp Rabbits goaltender Ty Rimmer and into the net. The defenseman’s first of the year at 6:36 put the Stingrays up by two goals.
Even with a two-goal deficit early in the second period, Greenville remained composed and entered the remainder of the game with a relentless offensive attack. The second period alone featured 18 shots on net from Greenville toward a three-period total of 39. The patience paid off for the Swamp Rabbits who finally broke through goaltender Vitek Vanecek at 12:17. After a quick regroup at center ice, Adam Chapie connected with Caleb Herbert who sent a pass across to Houk for a one-timed shot in the right circle. The effort didn’t miss and made the score 2-1.
Another Greenville defenseman found the net to tie the game before the second intermission. Chad Duchesne waited at the blue line for a pass from Evan Jasper and Nevins who battled for a loose puck on the left wing. Jasper’s dish to the second-year defenseman led to a bullet-like slap shot that found the net and tied the game 2-2.
For the first time this season the Swamp Rabbits were held without a power play goal, but Greenville outshot their opponent 39-27 to take hold of the game. Rimmer did not remain untested in the third as Mike Krieg stepped out of the penalty box and caught a breakaway pass. The Swamp Rabbits goaltender denied Krieg to hold the game tied with less than 12 minutes to play.
Houk tallied the final goal on an individual effort down the right wing. The Richboro, Pennsylvania skater brought the puck to the corner and managed to squeeze a shot just between the cross bar and Vanicek’s shoulder. The water bottle shattered and the crowd erupted as the goal signaled a 3-2 lead with only 2:09 remaining in the game.
The Stingrays fired a slew of chances late in the game but failed to equalize the score. The buzzer signaled the final score and put Greenville in the win column for the second time this week.
The Jacksonville Icemen will make their first trip to Greenville this season Saturday night. Greenville drops the puck at 7 p.m. against their new South Division opponent and will wrap up a three-game week.
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