BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits erased a third-period deficit and topped the Wheeling Nailers by a 3-2 margin on Sunday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Ryan Bednard earned his 20th win of the season and became the first Greenville goaltender since Jason Missiaen in 2011-12 to record a 20+ win season.
After Patrick McNally scored first for the Nailers only 3:37 into the game, Anthony Wyse buried the equalizer at 19:15. Ben Finkelstein connected with Wyse on a perfect slap-pass from the right point to the left faceoff circle. Wyse blasted home his second goal of the season and professional career after previously converting on Wednesday. Shots after 20 minutes were 12-7 Rabbits.
#RABBITSRISING#
In the second period, Patrick Watling converted on a 5-on-3 power play chance to restore Wheeling’s lead. After Max Zimmer and Garrett Thompson were victims of a minor penalty 43 seconds apart, Watling tallied his 15th goal of the season past Bednard. Shots after 40 minutes were 26-18 Greenville.
Down 2-1 in the third period, Greenville wasted little time to draw even. Frank Hora sent the puck wide of Nailers goaltender Tommy Nappier, but Garrett Thompson buried a lively rebound off the end wall only 40 seconds into the frame.
At 4:25, Max Zimmer provided the Swamp Rabbits their first and only lead on a power move to the Wheeling net. On a 2-on-2 rush with Matt Bradley, Zimmer went hard to the blue paint and beat Nappier five-hole for the eventual game-winning goal.
Final shots totaled 36-26 Swamp Rabbits. With Greenville’s win, they locked in a home-ice advantage for Round 1 of the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits return to action on Wednesday, June 2, to kick off a two-game set against the Florida Everblades. Puck drop from Hertz Arena is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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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.
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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.
