GREENVILLE, SC – Battling for playoff spots in the ECHL’s South division is year-in and year-out one of the toughest things in the league. No matter the records, no matter the location, divisional games are always the most difficult to win.
Saturday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the host Greenville Swamp Rabbits (26-18-4-1, 57 points) took over sole possession of second place with a 5-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears (24-17-5-2, 55 points) in front of an announced crowd of 6,286. Michael Joly led the way with a pair of goals, including a penalty shot, while Brandon Alderson and Angelo Miceli each tallies a goal and an assist each.
A huge key to Orlando’s success this season has been solid starts and scoring first and that is exactly what happened on Saturday. With goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo keeping the host Swamp Rabbits under control early on, the Solar Bears struck first at the 12:15 mark during a power play. It came when a pass by a Greenville defender was picked off by Orlando forward Milos Bubela. Already in the scoring zone in the right circle, Bubela ripped a shot past the glove hand of Greenville goalie Mackenzie Skapski for his second goal of the season and first since joining the Orlando roster.
Not to be outdone, Greenville tied the score with a man-advantage tally of its own. Bretton Cameron made the key play, sliding a pass across the slot to Alderson who buried the puck behind Kaskisuo for his 12th of the year at the 14:34 mark.
The Swamp Rabbits then took the lead for good 90 seconds later when Joly pinballed the rebound of a Justin DaSilva shot off a defender and into the cage for the rookie’s 13th goal.
The middle frame was a tight, defensive affair. Both Skapski and Kaskisuo were on their games, stopping everything in sight. The teams combined for five fruitless power play opportunities and 18 shots in the frame (11-7 Orlando) but the score remained 2-1 Greenville heading to the third.
The battle of the netminders lasted well into the final frame when the Swamp Rabbits broke the game open. At the 9:50 mark, Joly was impeded from behind by Orlando’s Brenden Miller on a breakaway, earning him a penalty shot. Joly calmly and cooly skated in on Kaskisuo and put the puck between the legs of the rookie netminder for his second goal of the night.
Twenty-five seconds later, Alderson set up Miceli for a shot that snuck inside the post for Miceli’s 10th and a commanding 4-1 lead with 9:45 left in regulation.
Joe Perry brought the Solar Bears within 4-2 at the 15:55 mark when a defensive zone turnover by the Swamp Rabbits ended up on the stick of Patrick Watling who fed Perry for a wrister from just inside the hash marks past Skapski’s glove hand.
Orlando coach Drake Berehowsky pulled Kaskisuo (25 saves) with a little over three minutes remaining, trying to find at least one more goal to give his team a chance. It did not happen as Tristan King sealed off the win by picking off a pass at center ice and scoring into the open net with 1:59 remaining to account for the final score.
Skapski finished the night with 37 saves. Orlando’s power play went 1-for-9 in the contest while Greenville ended up 1-for-6 with the man advantage.
Orlando will finish its weekend with a game Sunday afternoon at South Carolina. Game time is set for 3:05 p.m.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
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