TRUST: BRADLEY OT GOAL LEADS BITS PAST BEARS
BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits scored a 3-2 overtime victory over the Orlando Solar Bears on Friday night at the Amway Center. Matt Bradley registered his second sudden-death overtime goal this season to hand the Rabbits six consecutive road victories.
Orlando drew first blood on Kevin Lohan’s second goal of the season at 5:43. After receiving a pass across the blue line from Alexander Kuqali, Lohan fired a puck with eyes from the right-point past Rabbits netminder John Lethemon. Shots after 20 minutes were 11-10 Solar Bears.
Next period, the Rabbits evened the contest before eventually salvaging their first lead of the night. At 9:55, Greg Meireles tallied his 10th goal of the season on a missile from the left face-off circle past Orlando goaltender Clint Windsor. Only 5:07 later, Greenville cashed in once more. Bryce Reddick unleashed a howitzer from the top of the left face-off circle at 15:02 to put Greenville in front.
#RABBITSRISING#
Shots after 40 minutes were 29-20 Rabbits. Only 45 seconds into the third stanza, Orlando fought back for the equalizer. Matthew Spencer, from the point, hit twine behind Lethemon to even the score at 2-2.
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits required overtime for a franchise-record 22nd time this season. Despite entering tonight with a 5-11 OT record, Greenville hit pay-dirt on their very first shot in sudden death. Matt Bradley accepted a feed from Samuel Jardine at the center-point and beat Windsor with a bullet low-glove side. Bradley’s 15th goal of the season walked off the contest for Greenville at 3:29 for his club’s sixth consecutive road win.
Greenville’s six-game road winning streak is the longest since the 2012-13 season. Final shots totaled 37-30 Greenville. The Rabbits finished 0-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits return to action and continue their current three-game set with Orlando on Saturday, May 8. Puck drop at the Amway Center is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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ABOUT US
Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has provided 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.
