Swamp Rabbits fans, staff, players, donate over 2,300 stuffed animals to charity
BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits came back from two deficits, but could not come back from a third. The Florida Everblades picked up a late power play goal from Nate Perkovich at the 11:53 mark of the third period, and an empty-netter from John McCarron to seal up a 4-2 win over Greenville on Friday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Perkovich was the recipient of a three-way passing play between himself, Kyle Platzer and Logan Roe, who split the seam on the Swamp Rabbits’ penalty kill and fed Perkovich for the tip out in front, and established a lead in the third.
McCarron took a Greenville turnover at the offensive blue line, and from 170 feet, buried the biscuit into an empty net to close out the game for Florida.
The ‘Blades continued a hot streak of winning when scoring first (10-0-3), when leading after one period (12-0-1), and when leading after two (13-0-1). They also continued a standings point streak to 13 consecutive games and a winning streak to six.
The Swamp Rabbits responded to two deficits in kind. Ben Masella got the scoring started at the 13:53 mark of the first period. It took halfway through the second period for the fireworks to erupt.
On a jam play at the side of the net created by Travis Howe, whose return to the lineup created two fights and this play in particular, Stephen Pierog lifted the puck to Chris Izmirlian who powered the puck past Everblades goaltender Jeremy Helvig to tie the game at one, and bring stuffed animals raining from everywhere in the stands.
Over 2,300 stuffed animals were donated to Toys for Tots and will go to underprivileged children in the Upstate this holiday season.
Much like last Saturday’s matchup with the Everblades, they always seemed to have an answer. Tonight was no exception. Just three minutes later, Zach Nastasiuk threw cold water in the face of that tie game and gave the ‘Blades the lead with a rebound opportunity in front of Chris Nell.
It took a few minutes into the third period for the Swamp Rabbits to generate the opportunity that led to the tying goal. Like shot out of a cannon, Thomas Ebbing raced to get to a puck that had deflected high in the air off a passing attempt by Johno May and through Helvig. After a discussion, the goal stood as a legal deflection, and the game was tied at two.
After outshooting Florida 10-9 in the first, the ‘Blades took control of shot possession the rest of the way, with a 24-17 mark in the last two periods, good for a total of 33-27.
The busy weekend for Greenville ends in Charleston, South Carolina to take on the Stingrays. Catch all of the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.
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