BY: Mark Shelley, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
CINCINNATI, O.H. – Three first-period goals were too much for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits to overcome as the Cincinnati Cyclones pulled away for a 6-1 victory at Heritage Bank Center Wednesday night.
The Cyclones jumped out to an early lead with Justin Vaive at the 2:16 mark of the first period. Less than a minute later, former Swamp Rabbit Lincoln Griffin scored the Cyclones’ second goal at 3:14. Just 14 seconds after Griffin’s goal, the Cyclones took a 3-0 lead with a Gino Esteves goal from atop the Greenville crease. Following a Cyclones penalty, the Swamp Rabbits cut the deficit to a pair of goals with Liam Pecararo’s power-play strike for his 10th of the season.
In the second, Cincinnati regained a three-goal advantage with Matt McLeod’s eight of the season just 36 seconds into the period.
The third period saw Cincinnati’s Jesse Schultz score just 30 seconds into the from for a 5-1 scoreline before Vaive added his second goal of the game to secure a 6-1 victory over the Swamp Rabbits at 4:22.
With the loss, the Swamp Rabbits fall to 9-11-3-1 while the Cyclones improve to 16-11-1-0 on the season.
Greenville remains in Cincinnati on New Year’s Eve for a 6:00 p.m. game against the Cyclones before returning home on New Year’s Day for a 7:05 p.m. meeting with the Orlando Solar Bears.
Swamp Rabbits Single Game Tickets are on sale now! For more information or to secure your seats today, call 864-674-PUCK (7825) or email INFO@SwampRabbits.com
ABOUT US
Acquired by Spire Sports + Entertainment (SS+E) in 2020, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hockey team has been providing 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. Additionally, Greenville is a member of the ECHL, Premier’ A.A.’ Hockey.
