GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (21-16-3-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, rallied in the late stages of the third period and overtime to earn a 3-2 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays (22-14-2-1). Greenville has now handed the Stingrays both of their overtime losses this season. Tommy Thompson earned his 12th goal of the season, and team leading third 
game-winning goal of the year. His winning tallies have all come in Greenville’s last three home games.
The power play was firing again for Greenville as the Swamp Rabbits went 2-for-4 during tonight’s game. Spiro Goulakos leads all ECHL defensemen with 11 goals and opened the scoring for the Swamp Rabbits on the man advantage. The blue liner out of Colgate University caught a one-timer from Matt Prapavessis and ripped his fifth power play goal of the season. The man-advantage tally gives Goulakos the most by a defenseman this season.
In the second period, the power play tallies continued. Bretton Cameron earned his 12th goal of the season on a quick threaded pass from Michael Joly. The captain made it 2-1 Greenville only 27 seconds into the middle period. Cameron and Thompson are tied atop the Swamp Rabbits for the most goals this year.
Each time the Swamp Rabbits scored, the Stingrays countered. First Dylan Margonari recorded his tenth goal of the season and seventh against the Swamp Rabbits in the opening period. The second tied the game at two goals. Dominic Monardo netted his third goal of the year less than a minute after Cameron gave Greenville the advantage.
The Swamp Rabbits stepped up defensively in the second and third periods. Greenville’s penalty kill needed to be strong for more than a minute during a second period 5-on-3. They would shut down the Stingrays on that chance and two more penalty kills in the frame.
Goaltender Jeff Malcolm was one of the best penalty killers on the ice, making 21 saves for his ninth win of the season. The Swamp Rabbits would eventually outshoot the Stingrays 27-23 and Adam Carlson was saddled with the overtime loss, making 24 saves.
With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, the Swamp Rabbits were put on the penalty kill again. The Stingrays advantage carried into overtime after the scoreless third period concluded.
In overtime, the Swamp Rabbits killed off the penalty without allowing a shot on net. Quickly moving the puck up the ice, Desmond Bergin killed some time to allow a Swamp Rabbits change. A pass found Joe Houk who’s shot was saved, but Thompson was there to clean up the rebound.
During the last four games, the rookie from Londonderry, NH has earned six points (4 goals, 2 assists). He leads all Swamp Rabbits rookies with 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) and is tied for fifth on the team in scoring.
Greenville ends the month with a pair of games in Duluth, GA against the Atlanta Gladiators on Thursday and Friday night. The Swamp Rabbits are 4-1-0-0 against the Glads in the I-85 rivalry. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. on Thursday to begin Greenville’s six-game road trip.
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