Venue: Gas South Arena
Date: Wednesday Night, November 27, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM EST
TV: FloSports
Greenville: Greenville Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network
Atlanta: Atlanta Gladiators Broadcast Network
Peachtree Sports Network
The Atlanta Gladiators have announced that the club has reached an agreement with the Peachtree Sports Network for a second straight season, to bring ten Gladiators games to cable television. Tonight’s game will be available over the air on channel 17.2 and on Comcast and Spectrum cable, all throughout Georgia and Alabama.
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Current Standings:
Greenville Swamp Rabbits (8-4-1) at Atlanta Gladiators (5-8-3)
The Swamp Rabbits are coming off a strong performance, having secured a 2-1 win over the Atlanta Gladiators in their last game. This victory extended their winning streak to two games. The Gladiators, on the other hand, recently secured a 4-0 win against the Orlando Solar Bears, which ended their five-game losing streak followed by split results in their back-to-back games against the Jacksonville Icemen last weekend. Carter Savoie has been on a hot streak, scoring power play goals in three consecutive games. The Swamp Rabbits have been dominant recently, outscoring their opponents 4-1 during their two-game winning streak. Additionally, the Swamp Rabbits shut out the Gladiators 3-0 on November 9.
Atlanta’s goaltender Ethan Haider is now tied for the league lead with two shutouts after Tuesday’s win in Orlando, showcasing his strong performance in net last week and earning him the Warrior Hockey ECHL Goaltender of the Week honors.
Last Matchup:
In their last matchup, Greenville defeated Atlanta 2-1 in a home game for Atlanta, following a 3-0 shutout win against the Gladiators the night before in Greenville. In that last matchup, Atlanta took an early lead with a goal by Jackson Pierson, but Greenville tied it up in the first period with a goal from Carter Savoie. The Swamp Rabbits dominated the second period, with Bryce Brodzinski scoring the game-winner to secure the victory. Despite Atlanta’s efforts, Greenville’s strong finish led to their win.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News & Notes:
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits are currently in 12th place in the league standings with a record of 8-4-1-0, accumulating 17 points and a 0.654 points percentage. They have scored 36 goals and allowed 42 goals against. The Swamp Rabbits have 155 penalty minutes, averaging 11.92 penalty minutes per game over 13 games. They have committed 55 minor penalties, five major penalties, and two ten-minute misconducts. The team is on a two-game winning streak and has a 7-3-0-0 record in their last 10 games. The Swamp Rabbits have played four away games this season, winning two and losing losing, with no overtime or shootout losses. They have accumulated four points, scoring nine goals and allowing 15 goals.
The Swamp Rabbits have shown strong performance when leading after the first and second periods, with records of 4-1-0-0 and 6-0-0-0, respectively. They also perform well when tied after the first period (3-1-1-0) and second period (1-0-1-0). However, they struggle when trailing, with a record of 1-2-0-0 after the first period and 1-4-0-0 after the second period. Interestingly, Greenville has a perfect record of 1-0-0-0 when outshooting their opponents, but they have a solid record of 7-4-1-0 when being outshot. In one-goal games, they are particularly strong, boasting a record of 6-0-1-0.
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits are on a four-game winning streak, having outscored their opponents 16-8 during this stretch. Additionally, Dryden McKay has been a standout in goal, securing a shutout with 41 saves against Jacksonville on November 24.
Players to Watch – Greenville Swamp Rabbits:
- Carter Savoie: Carter Savoie has been a key player for the Swamp Rabbits having has scored six goals and provided four assists, totaling 10 points. He has been effective on the power play with two power play goals. Savoie has also shown discipline with 12 penalty minutes and a solid shooting presence with 34 shots on goal. His contributions include four game-winning goals, tied for the league lead, making him a crucial player for Greenville.
- Dryden McKay: In 11 games, he has recorded six wins and maintained a goals-against average (GAA) of 3.25. He has played a total of 535 minutes, with three shutouts and one shootout win, making him a strong goaltender for the team.
- Parker Berge: Parker Berge has been a significant contributor for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits this season, especially in games against the Atlanta Gladiators. In these matchups, he recorded one goal and one assist on November 9, 2024, and added another assist on November 10, 2024. Overall, Berge has played 13 games, scoring three goals and providing nine assists for a total of 12 points. His performance includes a power play goal and a +6 rating, highlighting his offensive capabilities and importance to the team. His playmaking abilities and offensive contributions make him a key player to watch.
- Josh McKechney: McKechney has been a consistent performer, contributing both offensively and defensively. He has played 13 games this season, scoring four goals and providing seven assists for a total of 11 points. He scored a game-winning goal against Atlanta on November 10.
- Brett Kemp: Kemp has been another key player for Greenville. In 13 games, he has scored five goals and provided six assists, totaling 11 points. He has certainly been effective in creating scoring opportunities for the Swamp Rabbits.
Atlanta Gladiators News & Notes:
The Atlanta Gladiators are in 22nd place in the league standings with a record of 5-8-3-0, accumulating 13 points and a 0.406 points percentage. They have scored 28 goals and allowed 45 goals against. The Gladiators have 155 penalty minutes, averaging 9.69 penalty minutes per game over 16 games. They have committed 65 minor penalties and five major penalties. The Atlanta Gladiators have played seven home games this season, winning three, losing two, and losing two in overtime. They have accumulated eight points at home, scoring 16 goals and allowing 17 goals.
The Gladiators are strong when leading after the first period (3-2-1-0) and second period (4-0-1-0), and they also perform well when tied after the first period (2-0-0-0). However, their performance drops significantly when trailing, with records of 0-6-2-0 after both the first and second periods. Atlanta struggles when outshooting their opponents, with a record of 1-5-0-0, but oddly enough they perform better when being outshot, with a record of 3-3-2-0. In one-goal games, they have a competitive record of 3-1-3-0.
Players to Watch – Atlanta Gladiators:
- Eric Neiley: Scored the opening goal and contributed significantly to the team’s success in the recent game against Orlando. Neiley has been a standout for the Gladiators this season, with four goals and two assists in 11 games. Neiley has also netted two power play goals and a game-winner. With a shooting percentage of 17.4% and a knack for scoring crucial goals, Neiley is a valuable asset for the Gladiators making him a key player to watch.
- Ethan Haider: Haider was outstanding in his last few games in net, stopping all 33 shots for his second professional shutout on November 19. He posted a 2-0-0 record with one shutout, a 0.99 goals-against average, and a .968 save percentage. His standout performances included a 33-save shutout against Orlando and a 28-save effort in an overtime victory over Jacksonville. Ranked 13th among goaltenders with a 2.32 GAA and a .916 save percentage, Haider’s performance will be crucial if he is given the goaltending duties this evening.
- Derek Topatigh: Toptaigh is currently tied for second place among all defensemen with six power-play assists.
- Andrew Jarvis: Jarvis has scored 2 goals in 14 games, making an impact on the scoreboard for Atlanta. His ability to find the net could be crucial in games like the one Atlanta may have with Greenville. Additionally, he’s not afraid to play a physical game, which can be important in tough matchups like what we may see tonight.
- Patriks Marcinkevics: Marcinkevics has played 13 games, scoring three goals and providing nine assists for a total of 12 points, including a power play goal and a +6 rating. Recently, Marcinkevics has been on a streak, recording assists in four consecutive games since November 15. His consistent offensive contributions and ability to set up goals have been crucial for the Gladiators’ success, making him a key player to watch tonight.
Special Teams Analysis:
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits have demonstrated a physical style of play, which can be a double-edged sword. While their aggressive approach can disrupt opponents, it also puts significant pressure on their penalty kill unit. Despite this, Greenville has been efficient on the power play, boasting a power play percentage of 18.0%, which is crucial in close games. Their ability to capitalize on the man advantage and maintain a strong penalty kill, with a penalty kill percentage of 85.4%, will be essential in their upcoming matchup with Atlanta.
In contrast, the Atlanta Gladiators’ disciplined approach, reflected in their league-low penalty minutes, suggests a focus on minimizing penalties and maintaining control. This discipline has kept their penalty kill unit less burdened, allowing them to focus more on even-strength play. However, their power play performance, with a power play percentage of 13.2%, will need to be more effective to take advantage of the fewer opportunities they get. The Gladiators’ ability to stay out of the penalty box and capitalize on their power play chances, supported by a penalty kill percentage of 79.3%, will be key to their success against the Swamp Rabbits.
Greenville Swamp Rabbits:
- Total PIM: 155
- Average PIM per Game: 11.92
- Games Played: 13
- League Rank: 16th highest in the league
- Breakdown: 55 minor penalties, 5 major penalties, 2 ten-minute misconducts
Atlanta Gladiators:
- Total PIM: 155
- Average PIM per Game: 9.69
- Games Played: 16
- League Rank: 24th highest in the league
- Breakdown: 65 minor penalties, 5 major penalties
The upcoming series between the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and the Atlanta Gladiators promises to be intense and competitive. Greenville’s physical style of play, combined with their efficiency on the power play (18.0%), will be key factors to watch. Players like Carter Savoie and Parker Berge for Greenville, and Derek Topatigh and Eric Neiley for Atlanta, will likely be the ones to see deliver strong performances in tonight’s game. As both teams look to capitalize on their strengths, keep an eye on how each team manages their special teams and physical play, as these elements could be decisive
