Tosti: Swamp Rabbits Fall Short of Victory in Shootout
Greenville mounts exciting rematch with Stingrays and extends their game to a shootout, but ultimately fall 3-2.
BY: Brian Tosti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Greenville, SC – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (15-12-3-0), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack, came just short of a win tonight at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, falling 3-2 to the South Carolina Stingrays (18-6-3-1) in a shootout. The Swamp Rabbits opened the scoring with two goals, but Tim McGauley tallied a pair of goals to force overtime. Ty Rimmer was stellar in net again, making 45 saves in his first shootout loss this year.
Vote for your Family Dental Health Player of the Game!
The Swamp Rabbits tallied the opening goal with a bit of luck. With less than six minutes left in the first period, Carter Sandlak came down the ice after sealing the puck away from Steven Whitney. The winger put the first shot onto the pads of Jeff Jakaitis and collected the rebound below the goal line. He tossed the puck to the front of the crease, hitting Kelly Zajac and banking the puck into the back of the net. Sandlak’s third goal of the year was the only goal of the first period as the Swamp Rabbits and Stingrays traded opportunities.
Joe Basaraba was seemingly in the right place at the right time to start the second period Brenden Kotyk launched a shot from the right circle, causing a long rebound to the high slot. The Swamp Rabbits alternate captain stepped into a one-timer and fired it between the legs of Jakaitis less than a minute into the second period.
Both netminders posted fantastic saves in the contest as Jakaitis ended the night with 30 stops and was helped by three shots off the post in the game. Rimmer again came up with timely saves earned an assist from the post on a late third-period attempt by the Stingrays. Jakaitis earned his 10th win of the season making two saves in the shootout while Rimmer fell in his second shootout appearance of the season.
McGauley’s first tally came on the power play at 4:10 of the second period to cut the lead down to one goal. After two saves from Rimmer, the winger came to the right side of the crease and tucked the shot under the crossbar to put South Carolina on the board. His second goal in the game was scored just 48 seconds into the third period. The pass by Kris Bindulis found the winger right in front of the net to tally his fourth goal of the season and tie the game at 2-2.
In overtime, chances for both teams were turned aside by the netminders and great defensive play. The scoreless period moved into the shootout and with it, some controversy. With the game at hand, Branden Troock had the last shootout chance for Greenville after South Carolina had scored first. Jakaitis was ruled to have made the save on the goal line, but upon further review, the officials ruled it to have been a goal. The Stingrays were ushered out of the locker room to complete the shootout after nearly a five-minute delay. South Carolina left the game on the stick of Frankie Simonelli to earn the win. The defenseman iced the game as the Swamp Rabbits earned a point in the skills competition.
Greenville enters the holiday break holding third place in the South Division with 33 points and will face the Brampton Beast on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.
THIRSTY THURSDAY | Thursday, December 28 | 7 p.m.
We are throwing ticket prices back on Dec. 28 for Thirsty Thursday presented by Harbor Inn. Grab two tickets for $20 and enjoy our Hoppy Hour specials including $3 domestic beer, and select $2 concessions from 5-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased before the game through the Swamp Rabbits office or at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena box office.
Related articles
- Ex-NHL star’s wife: Trump made advance on me in elevator
- Another Woman Accuses President Trump of Being ‘Aggressive’ With Her
- Fail of the Day: Brian Williams Misremembers Helicopter Story, Twitter Responds By Meme-Shaming Him
- Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry prepares for stiff tests ahead
- Blue Jackets offense erupts in 5-3 win over Devils
Related
Related posts
Top picks
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
CALDER CUP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE RELEASED
By: Jason Chaimovich, American Hockey League SPRINGFIELD, MA – The AHL Playoff Games begin on Tuesday: OPENING SCHEDULES ANNOUNCED FOR 2024 CALDER CUP PLAYOFFS The American Hockey League has released the following schedules for the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs opening series, including the best-of-three First…
WOLF PACK DROP SEASON FINALE 4-2 TO BRUINS
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack concluded their 2023-24 regular season on Sunday afternoon at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. A third-period tally from the home side proved the difference, as the Bruins took a 4-2 decision….
WOLF PACK INK D HARRISON REES TO PTO
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – New York Rangers Assistant General Manager and Hartford Wolf Pack General Manager Ryan Martin announced today that the club has signed defenseman Harrison Rees to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). Rees, 24, appeared in 36 games…
WOLF PACK TAKE ON CHARLOTTE CHECKERS IN FIRST ROUND
All Three Games to Take Place in North Carolina By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT—The Hartford Wolf Pack and Charlotte Checkers will face off in an Atlantic Division first-round series to kick off the 2024 Calder Cup Playoffs. Due to the distance traveled,…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…
ANDREW LORD NAMED ECHL COACH OF THE YEAR
Fourth-year bench boss becomes first in both franchise and Greenville hockey history to receive recognition By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The ECHL announced today that Andrew Lord, Head Coach/General Manager of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, a proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los…
SWAMP RABBITS ANNOUNCE 2024 KELLY CUP PLAYOFF ROSTER
23 players begin the quest to hoist Patrick Kelly’s Cup in the Upstate By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoff Roster with the ECHL. Earlier…
SWAMP RABBITS AND LA KINGS EXTEND AFFILIATION
Los Angeles’ pipeline will continue to start in the Upstate through 2026 By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, 2024 South Division Champions, announced today that the organization is proud to continue its affiliation with the NHL’s Los Angeles…