BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville SwampRabbits
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2-3) vs. Florida Everblades (3-2)
May 2, 2022, | 7:30 PM |2022 Kelly Cup Playoffs Rd. 1 Game 6
Hertz Arena | Estero, FL
Referees: Cameron Fleming (27), Trevor Wohlford (38)
Linesmen: Brady Fagan (89), Antoine Bujold-Roux (72)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Pregame Coverage begins at 7:15 PM
LISTEN: Greenville Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network
WATCH: FloHockey Live Stream
Voice of the Swamp Rabbits Mark Shelley on the call
ROUND 1: SWAMP RABBITS VS EVERBLADES SERIES
PLAYOFF SERIES RECORD
Overall: (2-3) Home: (1-2) Away: (1-1)
Last Game:
GAME 5 – April 30, 2022 – Greenville 4 vs. Florida 2 2OT
Next Meeting:
GAME 7 – May 4, 2022 – Greenville at Florida*
Season Series Record:
Overall: (5-4-1-0) Home: (3-3-1-0) Away: (2-1-0-0)
ECHL STANDINGS
Standings
QUICK BITS
IT’S OUR TURN
For the third time in 5 games, the Swamp Rabbits played to a 4-3 overtime score, but Saturday night, unlike the previous two overtime games, resulted in a Rabbits win. The Everblades took a 1-0 lead on a power-play goal in the first from Stefan Lablanc and added to it in the second with another goal from Matteo Gennaro. Despite being heavily outshot, Greenville got on the board, as Max Zimmer found Johnny Coughlin early in the first. Florida responded, making the scoreline read 3-1 with a Blake Winiecki goal before Greenville produced late-game heroics. Ayden MacDonald sniped the 3-2 goal into the net, and Liam Pecararo scored the tying goal with under two minutes to play in the game. The two sides needed double overtime, 89:51 to be exact, to see Nikita Pavlychev slice home the game-winner for Greenville.
SCOUTING THE EVERBLADES
Saturday’s Game 5 put the Everblades offense back on track after being outshot for the first time in the series the night before. By the end of the night, Florida generated an astonishing 59 shots on goal. Game 5 was the fourth time this series that the Everblades netted at least three goals in a game. With three of their first four power-plays finding the scoreboard, the Everblades proved that discipline would be essential for Greenville’s success.
STAYIN’ ALIVE
89:51. That’s how long it took to find the game-winner on Saturday Night. The Swamp Rabbits outshot (and outscored) the Everblades 14-9 in the third period to earn three goals and send the game to overtime. Nikita Pavlychev scored the game-winner, his team-leading 3rd of the postseason, in the double-overtime to force another must-win game for Greenville in Game 6.
JOHNNY’S JOLT
Johnny Coughlin picked up his first point of the series on Saturday night as he scored the opening goal for Greenville in the third period. The game was Coughlin’s best of his four so far, as the blue-liner recorded the goal, three shots, and a +3 rating.
PLAYOFF LETHY IS A DIFFERENT BREED
John Lethemon has played the second-most minutes of any goaltender in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with 336 minutes. In that time, the Michigander has made the second-most saves in the playoffs, stopping 177 shots in 5 games. In his most brilliant piece of work yet, the Greenville goaltender stopped 56 of 59 in the team’s Game 5 2OT victory, including 19 shots in the second period alone. Lethemon, who made 11 straight starts for the Swamp Rabbits down the stretch, will make his 6th straight start in Round 1 tonight.
BIG MAC IN BIG MOMENTS
Ayden MacDonald, once again, proved a pivotal piece for the Swamp Rabbits late in the game. On Saturday, the forward scored the goal to bring Greenville within a single tally and almost scored the tying goal, settling for the assist after his shot hit the post. After 33 points in 44 games, 20 of which were goals, during the regular season, MacDonald now has 2 goals and 2 assists in five postseason games as a professional.
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.
