TOSTI: (SAT) Swamp Rabbits Dialed in on Offense to Best Icemen
Four-goal second period paces Swamp Rabbits to victory in team’s first trip to Jacksonville.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Jacksonville, FL – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-10-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, surged in the second period to score four goals and locked down the game defensively in the third period to earn a 4-2 victory tonight over the Jacksonville Icemen (5-14-2-2). Evan Jasper tallied the eventual game-winning goal in the second period as part of a two-goal outing. Greenville’s first win at the Veterans Memorial Arena pushed the Swamp Rabbits to a 2-0-0-0 record against the Icemen this season.
BOX SCORE
The Swamp Rabbits were living proof tonight that quality is sometimes better than quantity. Greenville tallied four goals on just 16 shots, scoring four goals on a game-high eight shots in the second period of play. Jack Nevins would tie the game with his fourth of the season to put Greenville on the board in the middle period. Defenseman Sergey Zborovskiy launched a shot from the top of the zone that was blocked in front of the net. Nevins collected the puck in the low slot, turned and shot the puck into the net. The tally at 7:29 also came on the power play to help the Swamp Rabbits to a 1-for-3 outing on the man advantage.
Jasper opened his night less than three minutes later, scoring his first of two goals. Branden Troock factored in both tallies with centering passes to his linemate. Jasper broke to the net as Troock fired a pass toward the net from the right corner. The puck deflected off Jasper before finding the back of the net at 13:49 of the second period.
The Sacred Heart alum added another goal at 13:49 in a similar fashion. Instead of a deflection off his body, Jasper collected a perfect pass from Troock on the left side and launched a one-timed shot off the crossbar and into the back of the net. Jasper’s seventh goal of the season places him atop the Swamp Rabbits rookies with 19 points (7G, 12A).
Greenville put an exclamation point on the period with a goal right off the faceoff at 15:56. Joe Basaraba was tossed out of the face-off, but Caleb Herbert came in to win the draw back perfectly to his linemate on the left side of the circle. Basaraba’s insurance goal was his fifth of the season to give Greenville a 4-1 lead at the second intermission.
The Swamp Rabbits victory also spoiled the Icemen’s Teddy Bear Toss game. In the first period, Garet Hunt scored his sixth goal of the year on a deflection to put the Icemen up 1-0. Teddy Bears rained down to the ice with less than four minutes left in the opening period. The Icemen would fall short of a comeback in the third period, as only Elgin Pearce was able to net a goal despite a game-high 12 shots in the final stanza.
Goaltender Ty Rimmer collected his 10th win of the season with 23 saves in net, while the Swamp Rabbits dealt a loss to Austin Lotz after making seven saves on 11 shots. Colton Phinney came into the game for the third period and made five saves in relief.
The Swamp Rabbits finish the week with two wins in three games. Three home games are on the schedule for next week including a rematch with the Icemen on Friday, Dec. 22 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
THIRSTY THURSDAY | Thursday, December 21 | 7 p.m.
We are throwing ticket prices back for Thirsty Thursday presented by Harbor Inn. Grab two tickets for $20 and enjoy our Hoppy Hour specials including $3 domestic beer, and select $2 concessions from 5-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased before the game through the Swamp Rabbits office or at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena box office.
UGLY SWEATER NIGHT| Friday, December 22 | 7 p.m.
Wear your best (or worst) holiday sweater to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Friday night. Fans who wear their sweaters and buy tickets at the arena box office on the night of the game will get $3 off orange level tickets. For more information, contact the Swamp Rabbits office at (864) 674-PUCK.
WINTER WONDERLAND PACKAGE | Saturday, December 23 | 7 p.m.
The Swamp Rabbits are offering a Winter Wonderland experience! Get your four tickets for the team’s Dec. 23 game, four passes to Ice on Main, and a Dave and Buster’s gaming package, a $140 value for only $65! The package is ONLY available for purchase through the Swamp Rabbits office at (864) 674-PUCK or online at SwampRabbits.com.
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