BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, S.C. – John Lethemon recorded a win in his professional debut in net for the Swamp Rabbits as Greenville upended South Carolina in overtime, 3-2. Ben Finkelstein scored the overtime game-winning goal at 2:41 of the sudden-death to down the Stingrays a second time this season.
After a scoreless first period, the Swamp Rabbits snapped a skid of yielding the game’s first goal. Greenville started the scoring for the first time this season courtesy of Garrett Thompson’s first of the campaign. At 5:29 of the second period, Jack Sadek fed Thompson from the right-wing, who buried a chance past Rays’ goaltender Alex Dubeau.
Greenville’s lead only lasted 1:24 in the middle stanza, as Justin Florek went hard to the net and buried a rebound chance on Lethemon at the 6:53 mark. Shots on goal after 40 minutes were 22-19 South Carolina with the score even at 1-1.
For the fourth consecutive game, the Swamp Rabbits were in a tied stalemate going into the third period. South Carolina grabbed their first and only lead of the night after converting on a power play marker at 3:20. Rays captain Andrew Cherniwchan redirected a pass from Caleb Herbert between the face-off circles past Lethemon.
The Swamp Rabbits rallied to draw even after video review later in the period. Bryan Moore took a shot from the left circle at 8:10, which alluded Dubeau. The puck hid in the back of the net, and the call on the ice was no goal. After video review, Moore was credited with his second goal of the season to tie the game.
Moore’s equalizer set the stage for sudden-death overtime and for Ben Finkelstein to return to the limelight. At 2:41 of overtime, Liam Pecararo drove the net on a breakaway, and Finkelstein scored into the open cage to seal the 3-2 victory. It was Finkelstein’s second overtime goal of the season, and second at the North Charleston Coliseum at the expense of the Stingrays.
With the victory, Greenville’s record improved to 2-3-0-1 on the early season. South Carolina’s record shifts to 3-0-2-0.
Greenville and South Carolina will meet again at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on New Year’s Day. Ring in the “New Year with Cold Beer” on January 1st with an early 2:05 p.m. start time at The Well. Ticket information is available online at SwampRabbits.com.
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ABOUT US
Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing family-friendly, live entertainment at Bon Secours Wellness Arena since 2010. Formerly the Greenville Road Warriors, the Swamp Rabbits are the highest level professional minor league franchise in South Carolina. The Swamp Rabbits are proud affiliates of the NHL’s Florida Panthers and AHL’s Charlotte Checkers. Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey League. Since the conclusion of the 2019-20 NHL Season, 678 former ECHL players have debuted in the NHL. Nine former Greenville Road Warriors/Swamp Rabbits have later made their NHL debut
