TOSTI: Swamp Rabbits End Season on a High Note Against Gladiators
Greenville earns 4-0 shutout on the road over Atlanta to wrap up the 2017-18 season.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Duluth, GA – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (24-40-7-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, powered through to a 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Gladiators (32-35-2-3) to end the regular season tonight at the Infinite Energy Arena. In the wake of the tragedies in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, the Swamp Rabbits channeled an emotional performance, which included a 49-save shutout from goaltender Chris Nell.
In the first period, the Swamp Rabbits battled with the Gladiators for the opening goal, trading blows left and right. Greenville would eventually find the back of the net first as defenseman Matt Prapavessis net his sixth of the campaign. Shane Walsh went across the rink with a pass to Sean Flanagan before the defensemen exchanged on a one-timer that rang the crossbar. The effort dropped right down inside the goal line at 18:24 of the opening period.
After the intermission, the Swamp Rabbits would need some solid saves from Nell in net. The Gladiators posted 19 shots on goal in the middle period but the rookie goaltender remained perfect. The Gladiators came close to ruining his first career shutout but had an attempted chance waived off by the referee.
The Swamp Rabbits had some chances to extend the lead but would finally bury a chance nine minutes into the period. Wade Murphy bodied up the Gladiators defense to force a turnover below the goal line and deked his way to the crease. The winger fought across the crease and tucked a shot just under the crossbar to extend the lead to 2-0 with his sixth of the season.
Johno May was the next Swamp Rabbits skater to have a chance at extending the lead. The winger came down on a shorthanded breakaway but was hooked from behind by the Gladiators. On in ensuing penalty shot, Sean Boner held his ground to keep his team in the game. The netminder finished the outing with 38 stops.
At the start of the third period, leading scorer Caleb Herbert notched a pair of goals to extend to 24 goals in the campaign. Walsh tossed a pass from the defensive zone for Herbert on a breakaway down the ice. The fourth-year skater touched the puck through the legs of Boner to extend the game to a 3-0 lead.
Herbert put himself in a spot for a rebound late in the game to net his second goal of the contest. Joe Basaraba launched a long shot from the blue line that was kicked by Boner right to his stick on the left post. He hammered the rebound into the cage for the exclamation point to end the year.
Nell’s shutout was the first of his career and the first of the year for Greenville. The Swamp Rabbits 4-0 win was also the first win in the season finale in the last three seasons. Greenville now ends the 2017-18 regular season and begins preparations for the 2018-19 campaign.
Related articles
- What to watch: Penguins battle Rangers, NFL free agency, NCAA First Four
- Boston Bruins: Rick Nash edition
- One-Man Show: Laine’s Hat Trick Lifts Jets Over Rangers
Related
Related posts
Top picks
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…