BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
GREENVILLE, SC – John Lethemon’s 32-save performance led the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to a 3-1 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears on Friday Night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
GAME SHEET: https://bit.ly/3uIH3rg
|
|
1st | 2nd | 3rd |
Final |
|
|
GVL |
0 | 2 | 1 |
3 |
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| ORL | 1 | 0 | 0 |
1 |
In the first period, Orlando outshot the Swamp Rabbits 13-5 and was rewarded with a goal at 12:41, as Tyler Bird scored on a three-on-one break into the Greenville zone.
After the Solar Bears took a late first-period penalty, the Swamp Rabbits started the second with a power-play goal at 1:43, as Liam Pecararo tipped in his team-leading 23rd of the season to level the game. Greenville captured the lead just before the midway point of the frame, as Ayden MacDonald poked the puck away from the Solar Bears defenseman and scored his 18th of the season for the 2-1 lead at 9:53.
In the third period, Swamp Rabbits goaltender John Lethemon dazzled in the net, denying Orlando a tying goal. Greenville iced the game as MacDonald scored his second of the game at 19:59, securing the 3-1 victory in front of 5,743 fans.
Lethemon, appearing in his 12th straight game and 11th straight start, stopped 32 of 33 Orlando shots.
With the win, the Swamp Rabbits improve to 33-27-6-4, while the Solar Bears fall to 33-30-6-1. Greenville needs just one point in its final two games or an Orlando loss on Saturday to secure a second consecutive Kelly Cup Playoffs appearance under Head Coach Andrew Lord.
On Saturday, the Swamp Rabbits travel to Norfolk, VA, to take on the Norfolk Admirals inside the Norfolk Scope Arena at 7:30 p.m.
Swamp Rabbits Single Game Tickets are on sale now! For more information or to secure your seats today, call 864-674-PUCK (7825) or email INFO@SwampRabbits.com
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. Additionally, Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier ‘AA’ Hockey.
