BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits topped the Jacksonville Icemen in a shootout, 3-2, on Saturday night at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Ben Finkelstein scored the shootout’s lone goal in Round 3 to win the game for Greenville.
Andrew Peski tallied first for the Icemen at 11:17 of the first period on a power play marker. Peski snapped a shot past Jacob Ingham along the right circle to provide his team the early lead. Only 19 seconds later, Matt Bradley countered for the Swamp Rabbits. David Broll sent a crisp, cross-ice pass for Bradley at the left circle, who unleashed a bullet past Icemen goaltender Kyle Keyser. Shots after 20 minutes were 14-11 Jacksonville.
#RABBITSRISING#
Matthew Strome registered his second goal of the season for the Rabbits at 15:14 of the second period. Going to the net, Strome buried a perfect feed from Max Zimmer past Keyser. Shots after 40 minutes totaled 22-17 Swamp Rabbits.
Only 1:17 into the third, Jacksonville responded to even the contest at 2-2. Mike Szmatula scored his 20th goal of the season after a curl and drag move to the inside and a quick release past Ingham. After a seven-minute sudden-death overtime period did not solve a winner, the game progressed to a shootout for the sixth time this season. Ingham stopped all three Icemen shooters, and Ben Finkelstein walked off the game with the skills competition’s only goal in Round 3.
Final shots totaled 36-28 Swamp Rabbits. Greenville’s record improved to 36-19-11-3.
The Swamp Rabbits return to action and conclude the home-ice portion of their regular season schedule on Sunday, May 30, against the Wheeling Nailers. Puck drop is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Ticket information is available online at swamprabbits.com.
SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of professional hockey in the United States! Single Game Tickets are available to purchase today here.
GEAR UP!
Represent the Swamp Rabbits for the 2020–21 season 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 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 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.
