Four games ahead as South Division race tightens
BY: Jordan Kuhn, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, SC – This week, a gamut of South Division matchups face the Greenville Swamp Rabbits the rest of the way. Just six of the final 19 games of the regular season are against non-South Division foes (Worcester, Indy, Cincinnati). Essentially, Greenville’s playoff destiny is in its own hands.
Friday night saw the Swamp Rabbits take on the Jacksonville Icemen for the first time since November 27. A revamped Jacksonville club made life difficult for Greenville on the road. The Icemen jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the third period, and at one point, led 3-1 on a controversial goal that stood due to a goaltender interference review.
Kamerin Nault, Cédric Lacroix, and Liam Pecararo all scored for the Swamp Rabbits, all in the third period, to bring the game to a tie, and send the game to a 3-on-3 overtime session. However, an untimely penalty led to a power play in overtime for Jacksonville, and Chase Lang scored at the 1:37 mark of the extra session to give the Icemen the 4-3 win.
A quick turnaround saw the Swamp Rabbits in Charleston to take on the South Division’s top team, the South Carolina Stingrays. The two teams had previously played to a very even season series, and the Swamp Rabbits jumped on them right off the bat.
Cameron Heath and Mason Baptista scored in the first period against the league’s best goaltender, Parker Milner, and the Swamp Rabbits led until the 15:10 mark of the third period. South Carolina tied it, but Lacroix added intrigue with his second goal of the weekend with just a minute and a half to go. However, the Rays broke the Swamp Rabbits’ hearts.
Tom Parisi scored in the final minute, and Eddie Wittchow scored at the 2:19 mark of overtime, and the Swamp Rabbits fell in consecutive overtime games over the weekend, both by 4-3 scores.
2/14 at Jacksonville Icemen – OTL 4-3
2/15 at South Carolina Stingrays – OTL 4-3
UPCOMING GAMES
Greenville Swamp Rabbits at South Carolina Stingrays
Tuesday, February 18 – 7:05 p.m.
Listen — Watch
Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Worcester Railers
-MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT, PRESENTED BY FLUOR GOLF FOR GREENVILLE-
Friday, February 21 – 7:05 p.m.
Tickets — Listen — Watch
Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Worcester Railers
-NICKELODEON NIGHT + PUCKS N PAWS, SPONSORED BY EARTH FM-
Saturday, February 22 – 7:35 p.m.
Tickets — Family 4 Pack — Listen — Watch
Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Atlanta Gladiators
Sunday, February 23 – 2:05 p.m.
Listen — Watch
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Cédric Lacroix – 2 GP | 2 G – 1 A – 3 P
Lacroix is riding a three-game point streak and continued his tear with a strong weekend for the Swamp Rabbits. He posted a huge power play goal on Friday night to pull Greenville within one (and eventually helped the team reach overtime), and Lacroix gave Greenville a late lead (and helped them reach overtime again) to pick up two out of a possible four points on the weekend.
RABBIT TAILS
- Greenville’s offense continues to chug along, with a 3.32 goals-per-game mark that ranks tenth in the league.
- Michael Pelech‘s chase for history continues. He remains eighth in all-time Greenville hockey scoring (108 points), just four points behind Sean Berkstresser (112 points). He also ranks seventh in all-time assists (78), just seven behind Brandon Wong (85).
- Two more points for rookie sensation Liam Pecararo kept him among the top rookie scorers in the league (T-6th, 35 points), and has played significantly fewer games than his competitors.
SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS
- South Carolina Stingrays (38-10-4) – 80 pts
- Florida Everblades (35-12-5) – 75 pts
- Orlando Solar Bears (24-21-6) – 54 pts
- Greenville Swamp Rabbits (24-25-4) – 52 pts
- Atlanta Gladiators (21-28-2) – 44 pts
- Jacksonville Icemen (18-24-6) – 42 pts
- Norfolk Admirals (12-33-6) – 30 pts
*standings as of 10:00 a.m. on February 17, 2020
Related
Related posts
Top picks
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…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
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…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
Stay connected with ours socials