KUHNS: BRASSARD’S DAGGER GOAL RAISES SWAMP RABBITS OVER WALLEYE
Swamp Rabbits capture three out of a possible four standings points
BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Toledo Walleye found a way to erase yet another one-goal deficit in the third period, but it was the Greenville Swamp Rabbits who had the last laugh. A go-ahead goal from Austen Brassard with four minutes left in the third period staked the Swamp Rabbits to the lead, and an empty-netter put the finishing touches in a 4-2 win on Saturday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
On a dump-in play, defenseman Sean Flanagan retrieved the puck and whipped a quick pass out to Brassard, who found himself wide open in front of the goal, and his high wrist shot found a hole through Kaden Fulcher to give Greenville the lead. Three minutes later, Johno May scored into the empty net to seal up the win and establish a two-goal lead. Flanagan picked up an assist on the goal as well.
Toledo, down 2-1 heading into the third period, continued to press throughout the final frame looking for the response. A quick play after a Greenville defensive zone turnover proved costly. A.J. Jenks took a feed in front and ripped a shot short side over the shoulder of Garrett Bartus to tie the game at two apiece. It was Jenks’ second goal of the weekend and his third point.
Both teams exchanged tallies in the opening period. Dylan Sadowy started his hot start to the season for Toledo while shorthanded. He broke up a play at the blue line on the penalty kill, stripped the puck away from Trevor Owens and danced the net to smash home the wraparound to start the scoring. It took a turnover of Toledo’s to even the score, as Stephen Pierog jumped on a Toledo turnover and buried the biscuit to tie the game at one.
May scored his first of the game following a healthy hit from Flanagan in the defensive zone. Pierog stretched the ice with a perfect pass, and May executed the triple deke to the forehand to give Greenville the 2-1 lead heading into the third period.
The third period had its fair share of rough stuff, but the entire game had a massive amount of it. The Swamp Rabbits received eight power play opportunities after the Walleye committed 12 infractions for 35 minutes. Greenville took 37 minutes in penalties on nine infractions.
Bartus was strong in net for Greenville, picking up his first win in a Swamp Rabbits uniform, and his 80th professional victory with 30 saves on 32 opportunities fired his way. Fulcher ended the night with 20 saves on 23 shots on goal.
The win was the first for head coach Kevin Kerr behind the bench for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and his first ECHL victory as a head coach.
The Swamp Rabbits head to the road to take on two South Division rivals—the Atlanta Gladiators and the South Carolina Stingrays—next weekend. Catch all of the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network (mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits).
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