TOSTI: SWAMP RABBITS DROP FIRST OF THREE GAMES TO STINGRAYS 

TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Drop First of Three Games to Stingrays

South Carolina takes a defensive-minded approach to top Greenville on home ice.

BY: Brian Tosti, Grenville Swamp Rabbits

Greenville, SC – In the seventh meeting between the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-11-2-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, and the South Carolina Stingrays (17-5-3-1) this season, offensive opportunities were few and far between. The Swamp Rabbits dropped the first of three games this week in a 3-1 decision that saw 20 shots on net by Greenville.

BOX SCORE

A strange play in the second period would open the scoring. After over 25 minutes of scoreless hockey, the Stingrays broke through. After the Stingrays chased down an icing and beat the call, Tim McGauley pushed the puck to the front of the net for Kelly Zajac. The winger stood 1-on-1 with Ty Rimmer and tucked the shot into the net with 12 minutes left in the middle period.
Zajac added his second of the game from McGauley just after the halfway point of the game and immediately following a Swamp Rabbits penalty kill. The winger cruised down the right side and pushed a pass to the Stingrays veteran forward at the top of the crease. Zajac’s seventh goal of the season would eventually go down as the game-winner for the Stingrays.

By the start of the third period, Stingrays goaltender Jeff Jakaitis had posted six shutout periods, making all ten saves in the first two periods against Greenville. The Swamp Rabbits were also denied a power play chance until the final period. Rimmer made 22 saves prior to the third period and added another 10 stops in the final period. The netminder suffered only his fourth loss of the season with 32 saves overall.

The Stingrays extended the lead to 3-0 only 2:30 into the third period. Patrick Megannety fought his way to the top of the slot before shooting the puck through a screen. The tally tucked just inside the post to add insurance to the Stingrays lead.

Greenville poised itself for a battle to the final buzzer. The team earned its first power play of the game with only eight minutes remaining and put up a group of chances that ultimately were unsuccessful. Moments later, the Stingrays would go back on the penalty kill and Evan Jasper would put his team on the scoreboard. The puck bounced to the rookie forward in the right circle for a quick shot, which rang off two posts before resting beyond the goal line. Jasper has tallied points in each of the last five games (4G, 4A).

With only four minutes remaining in the game, the Swamp Rabbits pressed to score a pair of goals and force an extra period. The Stingrays stopped the effort despite a game-high 10 shots in the third period from Greenville. With only three power play chances earned in the game, South Carolina came up empty and Greenville ended the night 1-for-2 on the man advantage.

Greenville is 5-5-0-0 in the last ten games while the Stingrays have broken out, winning seven of the last eight games. The intrastate rivals will meet again on Saturday night, the eighth matchup this season and fifth in the month of December. The Swamp Rabbits return to action tomorrow night at 7 p.m., hosting the Jacksonville Icemen.

UGLY SWEATER NIGHT| TOMORROW, December 22 | 7 p.m.
Wear your best (or worst) holiday sweater to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena TOMORROW 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.

GSP FUN ZONE
The GSP Fun Zone presented by GSP Airport returns on Saturday, December 23 and is available for five dates this season. Head to SwampRabbits.com to get up to four FREE youth tickets when you purchase an adult ticket for $15 in section 119. Offer only available online and while supplies last.

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