GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (5-7-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, scored a pair of third-period goals within 29 seconds to secure a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over the Adirondack Thunder (9-2-0) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Saturday.
Brian Hart netted his first career game-winning goal with 7:49 remaining in the third after Tyler Elbrecht tied the score less than half a minute earlier. The Swamp Rabbits also displayed an impressive performance on the penalty kill, stopping all eight Adirondack power plays in front of 5,345 fans.
With the victory, the Swamp Rabbits improved to 4-3-0 on SANDLAPPER Securities Rink this season.
The Thunder touched the scoreboard first at the 12:56 mark of the opening frame when Michael Kirkpatrick earned his fourth goal of the season. Following a faceoff in the left circle that was won by the visitors, Mathieu Brodeur collected the puck on the left side and shuffled it to Greg Wolfe in the slot. There, Wolfe sent the puck to the left post, where Kirkpatrick received the feed and beat goaltender Jeff Malcolm blocker side.
Jack Combs evened the score at 16:22 of the first period with his first power-play tally of the season. With Kyle Flanagan in the box for roughing, the Swamp Rabbits connected a series of passes in the Adirondack zone before Ryan Rashid gained possession at the blue line and delivered it to Rob Kwiet in the left circle. Kwiet delayed before guiding the puck through traffic to the right point, where Combs fell to a knee and ripped a one-timer home for his fifth goal of the season.
Following a scoreless second period, the Thunder regained their lead at 9:11 of the final frame courtesy of Kirkpatrick’s second goal of the contest. Just 11 seconds after Adirondack went unsuccessful on a power play, Mitchell Heard gained possession deep in the Greenville zone and centered a pass to Kirkpatrick at the bottom of the slot for a wrist shot past Malcolm’s blocker.
The pendulum continued to swing midway through the third period when the Swamp Rabbits responded with the final two goals. At the 11:42 mark, Tyler Elbrecht set up at the blue line and pounded a slap shot through traffic and off the bottom of the right post past Appleby’s glove. It was Elbrecht’s first goal of the season from Michael St. Croix and Scott Fleming.
Twenty-nine seconds later, Hart registered the game-winner with his team-leading sixth goal of the season at the 12:11 mark. Elbrecht created the chance with another drive from the blue line that missed to left, but caromed off the end wall and bounced directly to the crease where Hart adjusted and pushed it home.
Greenville finished the game 1-for-3 on the power play and set a new season-high in penalties killed (8). Between the pipes, Malcolm (2-0-0) halted 21 shots for his second consecutive victory, while the league’s sixth best goaltender, Appleby (7-2-0), made 21 saves in the loss.
Greenville outshot its opponent for the fourth straight game, 24-23.
The Swamp Rabbits return to action Sunday afternoon with a 2:05 p.m. puck drop against the Atlanta Gladiators at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth, Georgia.
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