BY: Matt Trust, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits continue their Eastern Conference Semifinals series tonight against the Indy Fuel. After winning Game 1 on the road, Greenville returns home for Game 2, 3, and an if-necessary Game 4.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (1-0) vs. Indy Fuel (0-1)
June 10, 2021, | 7:05 PM | Eastern Conference SF, Game #2 | Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Referees: Nolan Bloyer (31), Kyle Lekun (32)
Linesmen: Shane Gustafson (87), Brady Fagan (89)
Broadcast Information: (Pre-game 6:45 p.m.)
WATCH LIVE: https://www.flohockey.tv/
LISTEN LIVE: https://mixlr.com/swamp-rabbits
Voice of the Swamp Rabbits, Matt Trust, and Matt Caldwell on the call
GAME 1 RECAP:
On Tuesday, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits jumpstarted the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 2-0 road victory against the Indy Fuel. After a scoreless first period, Anthony Rinaldi tallied the eventual game-winning goal at 14:45 of the second stanza. Matt Bradley connected with Rinaldi at the bottom of the right circle for a quick chip shot past Indy goaltender Billy Christopoulos. Shots after 40 minutes were 20-16 Fuel, with Greenville leading 1-0. Shawn Cameron doubled his team’s advantage at 4:43 of the third period. Alec Rauhauser connected with Cameron on a stretch pass along the left wing to create a partial breakaway. Cameron buried a perfect shot to the top shelf for Greenville’s insurance marker with a burst of speed towards the net.
“BED-ZY, BED-ZY, BED-ZY”:
Ryan Bednard recorded a 37-save shutout for his first postseason clean sheet in his Kelly Cup Playoffs debut. Bednard’s playoff shutout marked the first by a Greenville goaltender since Jason Missiaen put forth a 31-save effort against the Wheeling Nailers on May 12, 2014, in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Tuesday night marked Greenville’s third playoff shutout win since 2011.
EXTRA SPECIAL:
The Swamp Rabbits were a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill to start their 2021 Kelly Cup pursuit on Tuesday. In Game 1, the Rabbits successfully killed a 5-on-3 Indy power play for over a minute, highlighted by sensational stops by Ryan Bednard. In the season series between Greenville and Indy, the Fuel power play unit proved lethal. The Rabbits went 18-for-25 (72%) on the penalty kill against Indy in five regular season meetings. Greenville went 4-for-23 (17.4%) on the man-advantage versus the Fuel penalty kill unit and 0-for-4 on Tuesday.
FAST FACTS:
Should the Fuel turn to goaltender Dan Bakala tonight, his record versus Greenville is 2-0-0 with a .99 goals-against average, .970 save percentage, and one shutout…Indy posted an 18-12-4-0 record in games away from the Indiana Farmers Coliseum in 2020-21…The Swamp Rabbits’ last 2-0 series lead came in the 2017 South Division Semifinals against the South Carolina Stingrays before losing the series in six…Since 2011, Greenville holds a 4-4 record in Game 2’s of a playoff series…The Indy Fuel are looking for their first playoff win in franchise history (0-5).
AROUND THE KELLY CUP PLAYOFFS:
Game 2 between Greenville and Indy marks the only Kelly Cup Playoff game in the ECHL tonight. Last night, the Florida Everblades topped the South Carolina Stingrays by a 5-4 margin to even their best-of-five series at 1-1. Florida led 5-0 after 40 minutes before the Stingrays nearly surged all the way back with four unanswered goals. Game 3 in Florida is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. In the Western Conference last night, the Allen Americans edged the Utah Grizzlies, 4-2. Allen now leads their best-of-five Western Conference Semifinals series 2-0. The Americans will go for the series sweep tomorrow night in Utah. Lastly, the Wichita Thunder evened their series with the Fort Wayne Komets at 1-1 last night. Game 3 is slated for tomorrow at 8 p.m. in Fort Wayne.
#RABBITSRISING#
PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Rise With Us and join us at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the return of playoff hockey! Tickets are available to purchase today here.
GEAR UP!
Represent the Swamp Rabbits for the 2021 Kelly Cup Playoffs 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.
