TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits Drop Heartbreaker to Beast
Greenville held advantage into the third period but are caught by a late push from Brampton.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-13-2-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, held a 2-1 lead ahead of the third period tonight but were bested by a three-goal comeback by the Brampton Beast (14-11-1-2). The Swamp Rabbits fell 4-2 in the first of two games against Brampton this week. The teams will square off again tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
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Greenville and Brampton went toe-to-toe during the first period tonight and held off a barrage of 20 shots against. The Swamp Rabbits countered with an even effort and 10 shots on net, killing off a Beast power play in the period.
In the second period, the Beast opened the scoring with a power-play goal. Stefan Fournier tallied his seventh of the season to put his team on the board only 1:30 into the second, off a deflection in front of the crease. The shot from Jamie Doornbosch was redirected into the net to put Brampton 1-for-2 on the power play. The Beast would end the game 2-for-6 on the man advantage.
The Swamp Rabbits responded with a power-play goal of their own approximately four minutes later. Matt Prapavessis would record his first goal of the season to tie the game in the second period. Bretton Cameron waited atop the crease to screen goaltender Zach Fucale allowing the long wrister to find the back of the net. Both Joe Houk and Joe Basaraba earned assists on the goal.
The three skaters would score again on the power play at 13:30 of the second. The goal came in a different sequence after Greenville continued relentless pressure in the offensive zone. Prapavessis slid the puck to Houk in the right circle to fire on a one-timer that flew into the net to earn the Swamp Rabbits a 2-1 advantage. The lead held until the break but was all the Swamp Rabbits could muster. Greenville finished the game 2-for-5 on the power play in a game that was dominated by special teams.
Goaltender Ty Rimmer was 20 of 20 in the period and continued his bulk of work throughout the game, making 44 saves in the contest overall. It was just the first time in six appearances this season that Rimmer made over 40 saves in a game and suffered a loss in regulation. Fucale earned just his second win in four appearances with 28 saves for the Beast.
Brampton opened up their effort in the third period, tallying the final three goals of the game in four minutes. Alex Foster scored his sixth of the season on the power play to tie the game again at 9:22. The second deflected goal of the game for Brampton tied the contest and came on the power play.
Nathan Todd managed to earn back the lead for the Beast just two minutes later while the teams were 4-on-4. Todd once again deflected the shot toward Rimmer, who fought off the first save, but the Beast forward was there to bat in the rebound. Fournier added his eighth of the season for insurance, swatting a puck into the net at 13:13 after a brief battle in front of Greenville’s net.
With the net empty and a late power play chance, Greenville pushed the envelope to tie the game. Despite a few chances in the final four minutes of the game, the Swamp Rabbits could not come back in the night.
YOUTH JERSEY GIVEAWAY | TOMORROW, December 29 | 7 p.m.
Be one of the first 1,000 kids 12 and under to enter the Well TOMORROW night and get a unique Swamp Rabbits youth jersey for free. Children must be present at the time of pick-up to receive a jersey. Friday is also your last chance to score a Goal “Horn-ament” while supplies last when you buy a Bon Secours Family Fun Pack.
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