ECHL Game Recap: Greenville Swamp Rabbits vs Atlanta Gladiators | 12/27/2024

The game between the Atlanta Gladiators and the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Gas South Arena on December 27, 2024, was a thrilling match up that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Both teams came into the game with a few roster updates. Atlanta added Jon Horrell as an emergency backup goalie due to Drew DeRidder being placed on injured reserve, and had activated both Connor Galloway and Zach Yoder. Greenville activated Carter Savoie from 14-day injured reserve with a few additional players not dressing for the game.

Starting Lines

Greenville: Jacob Modry #2, Miles Gendron #15, Patrick Moynihan #19, Carter Savoie #27, Bryce Brodzinski #45, and goaltender Jacob Ingham #68

Atlanta: Jeremy Hanzel #4, Dylan Carabia #27, Cody Sylvester #16, Eric Neiley #59, Joey Cipollone #71, Ethan Haider #31

Period 1

Eric Neiley took an early shot following a turnover, but it went wide to the right, leading to a collision between a Gladiator and Jacob Ingham. Jackson Pierson then fired another shot, but Ingham managed to block it. Greenville had an opportunity, but the Gladiators cleared the puck. Anthony Firriolo also took a shot on net, but Ingham made the save. Michael Marchesan sent the Gladiators to the penalty kill after he was called for tripping at 3:20. Greenville got some good shots on net, but Ethan Haider made the stops. After a risky deflection that Haider stopped, Greenville quickly regained possession. The Gladiators returned to full strength as Atlanta immediately made a surge, but Ingham got his glove on it. Later, Jacob Modry got a shot on Haider, but he stuffed that chance down as well.

Patriks Marcinkevics nearly scored with a backhanded shot on Ingham, but it was denied by the Greenville goaltender. Later, the Swamp Rabbits had their own opportunity, but Haider made the save. Joey Cipollone fired on net, but Ingham managed to stop it. Atlanta’s defense worked hard in front of Haider to protect the net. Brent Pedersen had a chance, but Atlanta shut it down. A pass to Easton Armstrong nearly resulted in a goal, but the shot went wide. Randy Hernández got a good look at Ingham, but the netminder made the save.

The Swamp Rabbits got on the board first after Bryce Brodzinski fired a laser past the glove of Haider at 11:39. Carter Savoie and Colton Young got the assist. Now ahead, Greenville was fired up after the goal and made some solid strikes at Haider that the goaltender had to stuff down. It looked like the Swamp Rabbits got a second, but the referee behind the net whistled the play dead before the shot. After a brief review, no goal was the call.

Atlanta had a chance at a goal moments later, but it was deflected out of danger by the Swamp Rabbits. Savoie’s attempt on net was blocked by Randy Hernández. The Gladiators answered back by finding a hole past Ingham. Neiley passed to Anthony Firriolo, who fired it in, tying the game at 1-1 at 15:39. Later, Pierson took a feed from Ryan Cranford, but Ingham batted it away. The Gladiators got a few solid shots from Firriolo on Ingham, but it was Patriks Marcinkevics who found the back of the net, giving the Gladiators a 2-1 lead at 18:20.

Moments later, with just mere minutes remaining in the period, Michael Marchesan scored a goal on Ingham, with assists from Neiley and Cody Sylvester (18:29). The period ended 3-1 in favor of Atlanta after those back-to-back goals.

Period 2

As the second period began, the Gladiators kept up their offensive pressure while the Swamp Rabbits sought to regain momentum. Tate Singleton had a shot on Haider, but the goalie deflected it. Haider also managed to clear the puck from the crease. Ingham made several key saves against attempts by Marchesan and Jarvis before heading to the bench due to an issue with his skate blade.

After play resumed, Neiley unleashed a powerful shot on Ingham, but the goalie made the save. A turnover by Atlanta created a heart-stopping moment for their fans, but they managed to recover just in time. Hernández later had a golden opportunity, but Ingham was there to deny him. The Swamp Rabbits had their own chance but they too were denied. The Gladiators then launched a relentless attack towards Ingham, coming agonizingly close to scoring. Their persistence paid off when Easton Armstrong, assisted by Zach Yoder, finally found the back of the net, putting Atlanta ahead 4-1 at 5:58. 

Greenville got a power play after Marchesan was called for slashing at 6:11. Russell took a shot, but Haider made a crucial stop. Another chance by Greenville was also denied. Then, an unfortunate bounce allowed Stuart Rolofs to score, bringing Greenville to 4-2 at 7:47. Ingham briefly lost the puck, causing chaos in front of his net as the Gladiators desperately tried to capitalize. Ryan Cranford fired on Ingham, but the goalie made a spectacular catch. Carabia took a shot, but it didn’t result in a goal. The intensity on the ice was now palpable as both teams fought fiercely for control.

Murray had a great chance on net, but Ingham made a crucial stop as Atlanta continued to build momentum. A delayed penalty on Greenville saw Sylvester and Topatigh working the puck, leading to Austin Saint being sent to the box for interference at 11:57. Hanzel fired a one-timer off a pass from Firriolo, but Ingham made another impressive save. With just over six minutes left, Saint was about to be released from the box when Atlanta seized their opportunity. Cranford capitalized on a rebound from Topatigh, finding the back of the net at 14:00, making the score 5-2 in favor of Atlanta. The assists came from Derek Topatigh and Dylan Carabia. The crowd roared as the Gladiators had extended their lead, intensifying the game even further.

Cranford later passed the puck off to Firriolo, who attempted a shot, but the puck went into the mesh, causing a stoppage of play. Shortly after, Sylvester was called for tripping at 18:17, putting Atlanta on the penalty kill. Haider made a crucial save on Carter Savoie’s shot, and despite a high and wide attempt by Tyler Bird, the Gladiators successfully killed the penalty. The period ended with Atlanta leading 5-2.

Period 3

The Gladiators entered the final frame determined to close the door on their rivals, while the Swamp Rabbits aimed to mount the comeback, replacing Jacob Ingham in net with Dryden McKay. Although Sylvester still had time to serve on his penalty, Atlanta quickly returned to full strength shortly after the period began. The Gladiators got the puck deep into Greenville’s zone, but Hernández’s shot was blocked. Greenville responded with a well-angled shot by Bobby Russell, who scored off a Brent Pedersen backdoor pass at 3:00, reducing their deficit to 5-3. Brent Pedersen and Patrick Moynihan assisted.

Greenville was later penalized for slashing by Tate Singleton at 4:39, giving Atlanta another power play opportunity. Firriolo made a shot that bounced up and into McKay’s glove. Marcinkevics took another shot, but it was stopped by the Swamp Rabbits. Moments later, Greenville returned to full strength. Bobby Russell’s pass to Singleton went wide, but Ben Poisson later netted his first professional goal, bringing Greenville within one goal with 12:45 left in the game. Tate Singleton and Russell assisted.

Atlanta continued to press, with Jacob Modry firing a one-timer that missed wide. The Gladiators pushed the puck into Greenville’s zone, and Sylvester attempted a wrap-around shot, but McKay made the save. Atlanta dumped the puck to get a line change.

Later, a Swamp Rabbit went down hard, resulting in a penalty against the Gladiators. Anthony Firriolo was sent to the box for four minutes for high sticking at 11:40. On the penalty kill, Atlanta faced some intense pressure from Greenville, and a near short-handed chance for Atlanta had fans on the edge of their seats yet again.

With 8:20 left in the game, Bryce Brodzinski drew a high stick from Firriolo, resulting in a double-minor power play for the Swamp Rabbits. Brent Pedersen capitalized on the power play, redirecting Parker Berge’s blue line shot past Haider to tie the game at 5-5 with 4:54 left in regulation. Berge and Stuart Rolofs assisted. Singleton had a chance to win it for Greenville in the final seconds, but Haider made a crucial save, forcing overtime.

Goals:

Greenville: Goal by B. Russell at 3:00 (Assists: B. Pedersen, P. Moynihan), Goal by B. Poisson at 7:15 (Assists: T. Singleton, B. Russell), Goal by B. Pedersen at 15:06 (Assists: P. Berge, S. Rolofs) [PP]

Overtime

The Swamp Rabbits had an opportunity to secure victory during overtime with a power play, but Atlanta’s penalty kill effectively thwarted their efforts. Finally, with just 1:50 remaining in overtime, Gladiators Captain Eric Neiley surged towards McKay’s net, retrieved his own rebound, and scored, sealing a 6-5 victory for Atlanta.

Goals:

Atlanta: Goal by E. Neiley at 5:10 (Assists: R. Cranford, A. Firriolo)

Game Summary

Shots on Goal:

• Greenville: 34 (9, 12, 10, 3)
• Atlanta: 46 (17, 15, 9, 5)

Powerplay Results:

• Greenville: 2/5
• Atlanta: 0/2

Penalties:

• Greenville: 4 minutes / 2 infractions
• Atlanta: 12 minutes / 6 infractions

Three Stars of the Game:

1. Eric Neiley (ATL)
2. Anthony Firriolo (ATL)
3. Brent Pedersen (GVL)