KUHNS: SWAMP RABBITS WEEKLY #16 

Homestand comes to a close this weekend

BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits

GREENVILLE, SC – This action for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits weekend provided an oddity in the ECHL schedule. It’s not often that a team has a Saturday off, but that oddity happened this past Saturday. The Swamp Rabbits welcomed the Norfolk Admirals and South Carolina Stingrays to town, and the team’s struggles continued against their division, and in the month of January alone.

The Admirals, a team that had been dreadful defensively all season long, put forth the closest thing to an imperfectly perfect road game. The Swamp Rabbits posted 46 shots on goal, and outshot the Ads 46-32 for the game, but could not solve goaltender Ty Reichenbach. It was utter domination by the Swamp Rabbits, who forced six power play opportunities, and saw two players—Garrett Milan and Michael Pelech—post six shots on goal apiece.

Norfolk’s two goals in the first period proved to be enough to win, and Jalen Smereck put the puck into the empty net with under 30 seconds to play in the third period to seal the win.

Sunday, Greenville celebrated Stomper’s third birthday by taking on the South Carolina Stingrays. An unfortunate staple of the Swamp Rabbits’ losing streak has been giving up the first goal of the game. However, in this game, Greenville struck first. A net-mouth scramble saw Dylan Vander Esch take a puck off of a shin pad and into the goal to start the scoring.

Utter domination in the pace of play in the first and third period of play was not enough, as South Carolina’s effort in the second period that saw them score twice, was enough to hold on for the win. Rays goaltender Parker Milner made his first start since early December, and made 36 saves in his return, frustrating the Swamp Rabbits’ offense, and forcing the losing streak to eight games.

1/25 vs. Norfolk Admirals – L 3-0
1/27 vs. South Carolina Stingrays – L 2-1

FAMILY DENTAL HEALTH PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chris Nell – 2 GP | 0-2-0 2.05 GAA .935 sv%
Goaltender Chris Nell did not pick up a win on the weekend, but his numbers were certainly enough to win. Nell stopped 58 of 62 shots fired his way on the weekend, with nearly identical stat lines for both Friday and Sunday’s games. Those two games were the eighth and ninth times in 22 games as a Swamp Rabbit that saw him post a save percentage above .920 in a game.

RABBIT TAILS

• The year 2019 started well for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits with consecutive wins, but the losing streak hit eight games after Sunday’s loss to the South Carolina Stingrays. During the eight-game losing streak, the Swamp Rabbits have been outscored 30-11, and the power play has gone completely silent at a 0-for-28 clip. On the plus side, the penalty kill has held the opponent off of the board completely in five of the eight games.
• The Rabbits’ season-long home stretch will come to a close on Monday, February 4 vs. Atlanta. After that point, the Swamp Rabbits will play eight of the next ten games on the road.
• The Swamp Rabbits made a pair of moves throughout last week by adding forward Kamerin Nault from the University of Manitoba, and by acquiring forward Nick Roberto from the Worcester Railers. Nault suited up for both games over the weekend and rejuvenated the third line into a more physical force.

UPCOMING GAMES

• Wednesday, January 30 | @ Atlanta Gladiators | 7:30 p.m.
  • Watch | Listen Exclusively on ESPN Upstate
• Friday, February 1 | vs. Orlando Solar Bears | 7:00 p.m. | Pirates and Princesses Night
  • Tickets | Watch | Listen
• Saturday, February 2 | vs. Florida Everblades | 7:00 p.m. | Pucks N Paws Night, presented by PetSuites Greenville
  • Tickets | Watch | Listen

SOUTH DIVISION STANDINGS

1. Florida Everblades (30-8-5) – 65 pts
2. South Carolina Stingrays (23-17-2) – 48 pts
3. Jacksonville Icemen (23-18-2) – 48 pts
4. Orlando Solar Bears (21-17-3) – 45 pts
5. Norfolk Admirals (17-21-5) – 39 pts
6. Greenville Swamp Rabbits (14-26-5) – 33 pts
7. Atlanta Gladiators (13-19-7) – 33 pts

*standings as of 10:00 a.m. on January 28, 2019