BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits scored a season-high four goals but fell short to the Wheeling Nailers, 5-4 in overtime on Wednesday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Greenville’s point streak pushes to four consecutive games in the overtime loss (2-0-1-1).
In the first period, Matt Wedman scored a bank shot from beneath the goal line at 7:02 to give the Swamp Rabbits an early advantage. Wheeling answered at 11:55 to even the game at one in the first period. Cody Sylvester tallied unassisted for his first goal of the campaign and later added a helper. The Nailers scored again before the period’s close on a shorthanded breakaway goal by Lawton Courtnall at 16:33
Next period, Greenville tied the score after Frank Hora connected with Joey Haddad from behind the net for a quick, point-blank chance at 3:28.
Wheeling countered with Ryan Scarfo adding his first goal of the season at 5:02 of the middle stanza, but Max Zimmer punched back for the Swamp Rabbits. Zimmer crept into the low-slot and buried a pass from the wing by Greg Meireles to knot the score at 3-3 before the second intermission.
In the final stanza, Ryan Zuhlsdorf provided Greenville with a 4-3 advantage at 4:18 courtesy of his professional goal. Greenville’s lead was erased 23 seconds later with Sean Josling’s equalizer at 4:41.
Sudden-death overtime was required, and the Swamp Rabbits ran into penalty trouble. Matt Wedman was boxed for tripping at 3:08 and Samuel Jardine was called for a high-sticking infraction at 4:18 to provide a 5-on-3 power play in overtime for Wheeling. On the two-man advantage, Matt Alfaro converted his own rebound after John Lethemon made the initial save to walk-off the game.
Greenville’s record remains at .500 and shifts to 3-3-1-1. The Swamp Rabbits return to action on Friday night to kick off back-to-back road meetings against the Indy Fuel. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. on both nights.
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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
