Swamp Rabbits recover to down Stingrays in OT

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (37-25-4-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, were forced into overtime tonight against the South Carolina Stingrays (36-28-2-1) before securing a 4-3 victory at the North Charleston Coliseum. Tommy Thompson recorded the game winning goal during the extra period, his team leading fifth goal of the season.

The Swamp Rabbits opened the scoring in the game less than two minutes in. Ahti Oksanen blocked down the puck at the blue line and shot the puck toward the net. Allan McPherson caught goaltender Parker Milner off guard by stopping the shot and stepping across the high slot. A quick wrist shot passed by the netminder and into the top right corner of the net. The third-year pro recorded his seventh goal of the season to take the early advantage.

Goaltender Jeff Malcolm put up a sterling performance in the first period and throughout the game, making 16 saves during the opening stanza. The Swamp Rabbits netminder made 34 saves during the game and earned his 14th win of the season.

Brandon Alderson extended the lead with less than 10 seconds left in the period. With the Swamp Rabbits on the power play, Alderson found some open ice in the slot. Oksanen and Angelo Miceli battled for the puck in the corner and the Finnish forward fed Alderson while tied up on the wall. The shot sailed into the net from the fourth year pro. Greenville would take the 2-0 lead into the intermission.

The puck bounced over to the Stingrays Olivier Archambault during the second period and battling through the Swamp Rabbits was able to tally his first of two goals. The Swamp Rabbits bounced right back to regain a two-goal advantage at 17:31.

Alderson’s second goal of the night came off a picture perfect pass. McPherson skated down the left wing and within inches from Milner slid the puck across the ice to Alderson on the back door. The easy tap in made the score 3-1 and lasted until the second intermission.

South Carolina battled back during a physical third period and managed to tie the game at 3-3. During the final five minutes, the Stingrays tallied two goals. Cody Corbett fired a power play goal from the right blue line off a faceoff win. In the final minute, the Stingrays pulled Milner for an extra skater, giving Archambault the opportunity to tie the game on a rebound. After Malcolm fought off a long shot in front of the net, the winger batted the puck into the net to force the overtime period.

In overtime, the Swamp Rabbits peppered Milner with chances. On a rush up the ice, Thompson tucked a wrist shot into the short side of the net less than two minutes into the frame. The winger’s 16th goal of the season was his fourth game winner in overtime this season.

The Swamp Rabbits return to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena for a three game series with the Atlanta Gladiators starting Thursday night.