9 goals, a season-high, crushes Gladiators’ defense
BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits scored first and never looked back in a completely dominant performance. While the game was tied at 1-1 briefly, Greenville struck for eight of the next ten goals en route to a 9-3 win over the Atlanta Gladiators.
Nine Swamp Rabbits had multi-point efforts in the dominating win that saw the team shoot 29% on the afternoon.
The second period is where the game broke wide open. It began with Karl El-Mir, who broke his nose in the first period, returning to action nearly immediately. 1:27 into the second period, he scored his third as a Swamp Rabbit to extend the lead to 3-1.
Mason Baptista‘s second goal of the game at 7:05 off of a wraparound by El-Mir proved to be the game-winning goal, and for good measure, at 8:19, Dylan MacPherson added one more.
Cameron Heath and Joel Messner traded tallies to close out the second period, with the Swamp Rabbits leading 6-2 after 40 minutes of action. It was Heath’s first ECHL goal.
While Chris Forney cut Greenville’s lead in half with a goal off of the faceoff, the Swamp Rabbits’ offense was undeterred. A power play goal by Patrick Bajkov, the team’s second power play marker of the day, and an even-strength tally by Kamerin Nault, separated by just a minute and 40 seconds, put any hope of an Atlanta comeback on ice.
Lincoln Griffin‘s first ECHL goal capped the scoring for the Swamp Rabbits.
The first period saw all three goals scored due to special teams. With Tommy Marchin just exiting the box for elbowing, Baptista pounced on a rebound off of the pads of Chris Nell on a shot by MacPherson to open the scoring.
A massive check thrown by Atlanta defenseman Zach Malatesta on El-Mir led to a major penalty power play. As Mike Monfredo‘s penalty had just expired, the Swamp Rabbits were caught in the defensive zone, and Samuel Asselin evaded traffic to tie the game.
That tally did not last long. Chad Duchesne rifled a puck that appeared to hit the crossbar and Nault swept in the loose crumbs. The play was reviewed and called a goal, initially given to Nault. But upon even further review, Duchesne’s original shot went into the net and popped right back out to give the Swamp Rabbits a lead they would never give up.
Jeremy Helvig, who had to make a few breakaway saves in this one, stopped 30 shots for his 40th career win.
The nine goals scored were a season-high.
The Swamp Rabbits head to the Sunshine State to take on the Florida Everblades for a pair of games beginning Friday, February 7 at 7:30 p.m.
Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team’s official Facebook and Twitter pages!
Contact a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive at 864.674.PUCK (7825) for information on 2019–20 ticket plans, special group rates, and hospitality opportunities and secure your seats today! Get the latest Swamp Rabbits gear by visiting the “Hop Shop” online at Shop.SwampRabbits.com to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties!
Related
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
PREGAME: WOLF PACK HOPE TO BUILD ON WIN OVER B’S
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack and Providence Bruins meet tonight for Game 2 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinal series at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. The puck drop is set for 7:05 p.m., and coverage…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
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…
Stay connected with ours socials