BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits dropped a 5-1 final against the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Wednesday Night at the Carolina Ice Palace. South Carolina leads the best-of-five series, 1-0. Game 2 is scheduled for Friday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
Max Novak opened the scoring for the Stingrays on a 5-on-3 power-play goal at 11:58 of the first period. On the rebound of a Cole Ully try, Novak, lifted the second-chance effort over Ryan Bednard’s pad and into the cage. Dylan Steman doubled his team’s lead to 2-0 at 14:14. Shots after 20 minutes were 15-4 South Carolina.
#RABBITSRISING#
Next period, the Rays scored twice more to open a 4-0 hole against their in-state rivals. South Carolina captain Andrew Cherniwchan tallied at 5:37 on the power play, and again at 13:11 after redirecting a Tyler Nanne shot. After 40 minutes, South Carolina led the shot total of 26-16.
Graham Knott broke Hunter Shepard’s bid for a shutout with Greenville’s only goal at 6:26 of the third period. Novak tallied his second goal at 18:16 with an unassisted, empty-net marker. The final shot totals concluded at 36-27 Stingrays. The Swamp Rabbits finished 0-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-5 on the penalty kill.
PLAYOFF TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of playoff hockey! Tickets are available to purchase today here.
GEAR UP!
Represent the Swamp Rabbits for the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs by heading to our online store, the Hop Shop to purchase your Bits gear. On sale now!
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.
