BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamps
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits extended their point streak to 10 games but fell to the Orlando Solar Bears, 4-3, in overtime. Brendan Connolly tallied twice for the Swamp Rabbits for his second multi-goal game of the season.
Orlando grabbed the early advantage courtesy of Chris LeBlanc’s fourth goal of the campaign. The Bears captain raced down the right-wing and beat Swamp Rabbits goaltender Ryan Bednard on a wraparound with 12:20 left in the opening period.
Greenville responded with an equalizer only 3:17 later. Ben Finkelstein fired a low shot from the right point, with Brendan Connolly receiving the deflection in front at the 10:23 mark. Shots in the first period were 14-10 Orlando, with the score tied at one.
Next period, the Solar Bears regained the lead, with Jake Coughler firing high-glove side past Bednard at 2:48. The Swamp Rabbits answered with Anthony Rinaldi receiving a pass from Ben Finkelstein and knotting the contest at 2-2 with 7:31 left.
Only 2:01 later, Greenville jumped in front, with Connolly tallying his second of the night at 14:30 of the period. Before intermission, the Solar Bears tied the score at 3-3. On a quick transition into the Greenville zone, Scott Conway wristed home the equalizer at 17:54 to send both teams into the dressing room after 40 minutes.
For the ninth time this season, overtime was required for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to decide a winner.
OVERTIME
Only 32 seconds into the extra session, Coughler scored his second goal of the night, and it stood as the overtime winner. On a backdoor try, Coughler squeaked a shot through Bednard’s five-hole to win the game for the Solar Bears in overtime, 4-3.
Greenville’s 10-game point ties the longest since the Swamp Rabbits relocated to the Upstate from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 2010. The Greenville Road Warriors posted 10-game point streaks in the 2010-11 and 2014-15 seasons.
The Swamp Rabbits continue three games in three nights tomorrow at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Greenville will play host to the Jacksonville Icemen in the first of back-to-back meetings. Celebrate Stomper’s Birthday with all his mascot friends from local sports franchises, universities, and partners. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m. Ticket information is available online at swamprabbits.com.
#RABBITSRISING#
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