Captain tallies 1:05 into overtime to seal a win
BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
DULUTH, Ga. — Like their last meeting at the Infinite Energy Arena, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Atlanta Gladiators found themselves tied after regulation time. However, this time, it was the visitors who came away with the win. Michael Pelech posted his seventh goal of the season 1:05 into the extra session to seal the Swamp Rabbits’ 3-2 win over the Atlanta Gladiators on Friday night.
On quick transition from newcomer Brendan Harms, Trevor Owens came flying down the left wing as if shot out of a cannon, and fired a high-rising shot that Glads’ goaltender Miroslav Svoboda made the initial save, but Pelech followed up the shot and bashed the puck between the wickets and into the goal to give Greenville the win.
A 2-2 tie saw two lead changes. The Gladiators picked up the opening tally, where the Swamp Rabbits then battled back for two more before Atlanta tied it once again.
Alex Overhardt started the scoring for the Glads on an early power play. A slap shot from Zach Malatesta, coming off of a multi-point effort against Greenville last time out, was deflected out in front by Overhardt, to continue his hot streak and give the Glads a 1-0 lead. The lead lasted all of five minutes, as the Swamp Rabbits got the tying marker from the blue line.
Johno May used his speed to get out wide on a defender and wait for the defenseman off of the bench, in this case, Jon Jutzi, and his seeing-eye wrist shot from the high slot evaded everything but net on its way to the goal.
The Swamp Rabbits had to wait until the second period to get the next one, as just 3:14 into the middle frame, the newcomer Harms found his way on the scoresheet. Chad Duchesne found May in the left wing corner, and his rifle pass from circle to circle found Harms, who danced a prone Svoboda and slammed the puck home to give Greenville a 2-1 lead.
The Swamp Rabbits appeared to take the lead even further in the second period, as a hard wrist shot from Owens rang the crossbar and the puck appeared to cross the line on the second chance opportunities in front, but after further consultation, the call on the ice was reversed, and the Swamp Rabbits went to the room up 2-1.
Wily vet Derek Nesbitt eliminated the lead at the 3:23 mark of the third period with a one-timer from the left circle that beat Chris Nell over the blocker side and tied the game at two.
Nell made 21 saves in his second win as a Swamp Rabbit, and in his fourth consecutive start for Greenville. He was most busy in the second period, where he made 10 stops alone.
This game was the Swamp Rabbits’ sixth trip to overtime this season, and they have gone 3-3 in those games.
The Swamp Rabbits return home to complete the home-and-home set with the Gladiators on Saturday, December 1 at 7:35 p.m. It’s the first of two Sing for Santa nights at The Well! Check out all of the action and get your tickets at SwampRabbits.com.
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