TOSTI: GREENVILLE OPENS SEASON IN CLOSE BATTLE WITH WHEELING
Greenville Opens Season in Close Battle with Wheeling
Swamp Rabbits fall short in back and forth affair with Nailers during the home opener.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (0-1-0-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, matched the Wheeling Nailers blow-for-blow tonight in a bout of heavy shots and offensive chances. Ultimately the Swamp Rabbits would come up short in a 5-4 decision with their North Division opponent. Greenville and Wheeling will face off again tomorrow night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
In front of over 4,200 fans, Greenville would battle to open the scoring and would be the first to draw blood in a back-and-forth effort. Caleb Herbert came down the ice on a 2-on-1 and rifled a shot over the shoulder of the goaltender Sean Maguire, shattering the water bottle off the top of the net. Herbert’s first of the year held into the first intermission. Assists were rewarded to Dawson Leedahl and Brenden Kotyk on the play, giving the pair of rookies their first points in pro hockey.
The second period carried a different tune from the Nailers. Wheeling net two goals before the three-minute mark of the middle period to take over the lead. Cody Wydo and Garrett Meurs began their nights on a pair of transition plays to give Wheeling a 2-1 lead. It would not be long until Greenville countered.
Adam Chapie came down the ice with Herbert and pulled off a highlight reel goal to tie the contest. The winger moved to the left circle and around a defender but lost his balance on a check. While falling to the ice and with his body outstretched, he shuffled the puck into the bottom right corner of the net for his first of the season.
The physicality of the game jumped up to a whole new level in the game as roughing penalties, and fighting majors were handed out later in the period. Greenville powered through the physical play and would earn a power play opportunity. Bretton Cameron hopped off the bench and fired a shot toward the net for Branden Troock to deflect it in for the 3-2 advantage.
Wheeling also had a trick up their sleeve to tie the game for the second time on the night. Meurs walked off a faceoff and was just able to sneak the puck past Brandon Halverson. The goal with less than a minute left in the second period resulted in a 3-3 tie at the intermission.
The Nailers and Swamp Rabbits peppered one another with shots on net. Halverson would end the night with 39 saves while Maguire stopped 43 shots to his crease. The Nailers once again responded at the start of the period, regaining the lead less than three minutes into the final period. Nick Sorkin capitalized on a rebound chance at the top of the crease and gave Wheeling the final push toward a victory as the team did not relinquish the advantage in the final period.
Reid Gardiner would add an insurance goal on a 5-on-3 the power play with less than eight minutes to play to push the Nailers to a 5-3 score. The insurance was needed as alternate captain Curt Gogol added a goal in the waning seconds of a power play advantage.
Greenville pulled the goaltender with two minutes left in the game and failed to convert on the man advantage opportunity. Special teams turned in a big night for the Swamp Rabbits who finished the contest 2-for-5 on the power play and stopped 5-of-6 Nailers power play chances.
Vote for tonight’s FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH Player of the Game
UNDERWEAR TOSS: Greenville is back in action against the Nailers tomorrow night at 7 p.m. Join the pregame Fan Fest at 5:30 p.m. for the Dew Street Hockey Zone, inflatables, concessions specials, music, and more! The Swamp Rabbits have also partnered with the Salvation Army of Greenville for an Underwear Toss donation. Fans are encouraged to bring new and packaged undergarments to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena and throw them onto the ice after Greenville’s first goal. All items will be donated back to the local community through the Salvation Army.
CLEAR BAG POLICY: The Bon Secours Wellness Arena has implemented a clear bag policy for all events. Each ticketed guest will be permitted to carry one large clear bag, either a Ziploc style bag or a 12”x6”x12” clear bag, plus a small clutch purse (4.5”x6.5”). For more information on the policy, click here.
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