By: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
JACKSONVILLE, FL – In a game that lasted nearly four hours, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits fell short of the Jacksonville Icemen in two overtimes, 2-1, as the South Division Semifinal series was leveled at 1-1 on Sunday night at the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena.
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Jacksonville entered the game with an offensive onslaught toward the Swamp Rabbits’ net, delivering 14 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes. However, Greenville shot just four times in the first period and was forced into thein end with three separate penalty kills.
The Swamp Rabbits entered the second period by taking the wind out of Jacksonville’s sails, as Brett Kemp slid the puck to Josh McKechney for a breakaway goal, his second of the series, just 15 seconds into the restart.
In the third, the Icemen leveled the game just 43 seconds into the frame as Ben Tardif scored his first of the postseason. Greenville outshot the Icemen 7-4 in the final period, but neither team found the tying goal before the end of regulation.
The two sides played overtime, with Greenville outshooting the Icemen 9-5. After heroic saves by Jacksonville’s Charles Williams, the game remained tied at 1-1.
After the first overtime proved non-decisive, the sides began the second overtime period. Finally, at 4:18, Jacksonville broke the deadlock, winning the game as Brendan Harris scored his first of the playoffs.
Greenville’s loss levels the best-of-seven South Division Semifinal at one game apiece.
The Swamp Rabbits and the Icemen travel to Bon Secours Wellness Arena on Tuesday, April 25, as the series shifts to Greenville for Game 3. The puck drop is slated for 7:05 p.m.
Swamp Rabbits tickets can be purchased at SwampRabbits.com or the Bon Secours Wellness Arena Box Office.
About the Greenville Swamp Rabbits …
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 the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s LA Kings and the AHL’s Ontario Reign. Additionally, Greenville is a member of the ECHL Premier AA Hockey League.
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