Angeli’s third-period tally pulls visitors ahead
BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits tied the game at one early in the third period against the Norfolk Admirals, who struck first in a game this season for the 12th time this season, but the Admirals picked up a goal from Darik Angeli early in the third period, and an empty-netter late in the action to seal a 3-1 win over the Swamp Rabbits on Wednesday morning at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Angeli pulled in over the line and immediately got the shot away through a defensive screen and slipped a shot between the post and Chris Nell‘s blocker to give Norfolk the lead at the 5:23 mark of the third. It came in response to Dylan Vander Esch‘s goal just over two minutes earlier.
Vander Esch found paydirt after a miscue in the Norfolk defensive zone. Vander Esch rotated out of the corner, skated into the left circle and his shot ripped past the glove hand of Admirals goaltender Ty Reichenbach to tie the game at one at the 2:58 mark of the final frame.
Ultimately, after a comeback attempt the rest of the way down the stretch, the Admirals forced a steal at the top part of the zone and Taylor Cammarata set up John Gustafsson who put the game away with an empty net goal to put the game away for good.
The Swamp Rabbits generated plenty of great chances throughout, with Thomas Ebbing generating several throughout the second period using speed out wide, and with several net-front tap-ins available, the Admirals got the bounces all day long. Specifically, a breakaway opportunity for Chris Izmirlian on a strip steal was taken away by the hockey gods, as an inopportune bounce canceled out the opportunity immediately.
Luke Nogard got the scoring started, assisted by Angeli and Jalen Smereck, who logged a mountain of minutes for the Admirals on Wednesday, early in the second period. The Swamp Rabbits and Admirals played to a scoreless first period.
After having struggled for his last three starts, giving up four goals in all three of them, Reichenbach bounced back with 30 saves on the day. Nell finished the action with 37 saves on 39 opportunities. He and the rest of the penalty kill came up big for the Swamp Rabbits, killing off all four Admirals power play opportunities.
The Swamp Rabbits head south to take on the rival Atlanta Gladiators on Friday, November 30 at 7:35 p.m. Catch all of the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.
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