GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (27-18-4-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, downed the North Division leading Manchester Monarchs (29-12-5-4) tonight after trailing 3-2 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. Angelo Miceli tied the game and then won it in overtime, scoring his 12th goal of the season. It is also the first overtime goal scored by Miceli in his 
career. The Swamp Rabbits have won four games in a row and the last six played at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Miceli and the Swamp Rabbits put on a show in front of a record-setting Thursday night crowd of 4,773. With less than four minutes to play in the game, the Swamp Rabbits went on the power play for the fifth time, scoring the first and only goal on the man advantage. Brandon Alderson and Ahti Oksanen connected on a pair of quick passes before it came to Miceli for a one-timer.
The Swamp Rabbits leading scorer continued to dazzle in overtime with the score tied at three. Joe Houk caught a pass from Alderson before taking it to the crease. The puck lay to the right of the post and the Montreal, QC native was the only one to find it. Miceli tucked it under the cross bar to seal a 4-3 victory over the Monarchs.
Mackenzie Skapski earned his fourth straight win in net and has started the last six games. The netminder posted a 28 save performance to help his team to victory. Monarchs goaltender Sam Brittain takes the overtime loss making 31 saves. Greenville is 13-1-1-0 when they outshoot the opposition thanks to a 35 shot outing.
It didn’t take long for Greenville to net the opening goal. Ahti Oksanen opened the scoring 31 seconds into the contest. Michael Joly fed the Finnish winger for a one timer on Greenville’s first shot of the game. The tally was Oksanen’s 13th of the season and was the lone goal in the first frame.
A quick turnover to Ashton Rome would tie the game with a little over five minutes remaining in the second period. Greenville countered back three minutes later.
Tristan King was knocked down entering the offensive zone, but still held control from his knees. A backhanded pass to Joly was on the money as the rookie toe-dragged the puck to the high slot. The sniper recorded his 15th goal in 20 games for the Swamp Rabbits on a slap shot over the shoulder of Brittain to make it 2-1.
A late 5-on-3 power play goal for the Monarchs tied the game 2-2 headed into the break. In the third Manchester took the lead on a long shot from ECHL All-Star Justin Agosta. Quickly after, Miceli worked his magic on a 6-on-4 power play with Skapski on the bench.
With the win, the Swamp Rabbits are undefeated against the North Division this season in five games. Greenville will play Reading twice at the end of February, wrapping up play against the North Division in the regular season.
Greenville returns to action on Saturday night to host the Florida Everblades for the first of two home games. The Swamp Rabbits are 1-3-2-0 against the South Division leading Everblades and Sunday’s afternoon contest will end a five-game home stand at the Well.
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