TOSTI: Hot Start Cools Off in 5-2 Decision with Admirals
Swamp Rabbits net two first period goals but stumble in the second half against hot Norfolk club.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (17-14-2-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, came out red hot against the Norfolk Admirals (12-17-2-1) today at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena netting two goals in the first 11 minutes of the game. Ultimately the effort turned in favor of the Admirals, ending in a 5-2 decision.
BOX SCORE
The Swamp Rabbits opened the scoring without blinking an eye. In the offensive zone, Greenville attempted to put the puck toward the net resulting in a blocked shot. Brenden Kotyk collected the puck after the opportunity and passed it through the defense to the left circle for Jack Nevins. The winger fired a shot into the open net to score his fifth goal of the season a little over a minute into the game.
At the halfway point of the period, the Swamp Rabbits extended the lead with a goal from Carter Sandlak. The winger was part of a good exchange with Joe Basaraba at the right circle. After controlling the puck off the boards, Basaraba worked a behind the back pass to Sandlak in the hash marks for a quick shot. The puck snuck into the net through the blocker arm of Ty Reichenbach, giving Sandlak his fourth goal of the year.
At the break, Greenville earned an early power play, but it was Norfolk taking advantage of an opportunity. Domenic Alberga caught a pass from Patrick D’Amico in the offensive zone on a shorthanded rush and tallied his fourth of the season to begin the Admirals comeback. Later in the frame, Norfolk would tie the game with a sneaky goal from TJ Melancon. The winger let fly a quick shot from the right circle to catch Ty Rimmer off guard in net, tying the contest at 2-2 before the second intermission.
Norfolk notched the game-winning goal at 3:41 of the third period with a set of quick passes in the offensive zone. Michael Young stepped inside the circles and was fed on a cross-ice pass by Brodie Dupont before launching a shot into the net. The Admirals then turned on the pressure to score two more goals late in the game including a power play tally.
Greenville’s shortened lineup fell shy of a comeback despite 36 shots on net and five power play chances on the Admirals. Rimmer made 30 saves against his former team in just his sixth loss of the season while Reichenbach made 34 saves to earn his ninth victory of the season.
The Swamp Rabbits are back on the ice on Wednesday night against the Jacksonville Icemen before returning home on Friday to take on the Orlando Solar Bears. The Swamp Rabbits will play another five games against Norfolk before the season concludes with only one other meeting at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
SCARF GIVEAWAY NIGHT | Friday, January 12 | 7:00 p.m.
The Swamp Rabbits are offering the first 1,000 fans a free Swamp Rabbits Scarf when they walk in the door on Friday, Jan. 12. The Swamp Rabbits take the ice against the Orlando Solar Bears at 7 p.m. For tickets, visit SwampRabbits.com or grab a Bon Secours Family Fun Pack.
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