JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It took a touch over four extra minutes, but the Greenville Swamp Rabbits picked up the win in overtime over the Jacksonville Icemen, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.
BOXSCOREBrien Diffley kept the offensive zone with a swift chop, and after Kamerin Nault's opportunity was denied by goaltender Adam Carlson, Michael Pelech snatched the rebound and buried the biscuit to give Greenville the win.It capped off a stretch of play in which the Swamp Rabbits outshot the tired Icemen 22-7 from the second period through overtime.Overtime would not have been possible without one tremendous save from Swamp Rabbits goaltender Jake Kupsky, who stonewalled Mike Hedden on a clear-cut break down the slot with just eight seconds left in regulation. He made 20 saves in the win.Greenville started the scoring in all three games on the Florida trip. A broken play ended up in the back of the Jacksonville net, as Jimmy Lodge tried to dangle off of a Pelech pass from the point, but the puck hopped off his stick and onto Dylan MacPherson's twig, who whipped a shot from the left circle top shelf to get the first goal.The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Icemen 14-3 in the middle frame, and did some of their best defensive work all day. Unfortunately, one of those three shots hit the back of the net.With just over a minute remaining in the second period, Wacey Rabbit shook off a Greenville defender and got to the net, and his shot found a way through Kupsky to even the score.Neither team could strike on the power play, as the Swamp Rabbits had five chances, including an extended 5-on-3 power play chance.As a result of the win, the Swamp Rabbits regained the third seed in the South Division, one point ahead of the Atlanta Gladiators, entering a critical week in the 2019–20 season. The Swamp Rabbits return home on Thursday, March 12 to take on the Florida Everblades. Tickets are available at SwampRabbits.com.
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