GREENVILLE, S.C. — After a few days of rest, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits returned home to face the Savannah Ghost Pirates for the first time this season.
Before the puck dropped on Friday Night, the Ghost Pirates were second in the South Division and third in the Eastern Conference — two points behind the Florida Everblades. Meanwhile, the Swamp Rabbits were in sixth place in the division and 12th in the conference.
1st Period
Jacob Ingham returned to the Swamp Rabbits’ roster after getting sent down by the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League, as he started in goal. Evan Cormier for the Ghost Pirates would start in between the pipes for his respective team.
Austin Saint opened up scoring in the first 19 seconds of the period. Then seconds later, the Ghost Pirates would respond, as Dennis Cesana tied it unassisted. Both teams had good looks on net, but the respective goaltenders made excellent saves to keep it tied at one. But at 15:48, Bryce Brodzinski would net his first professional goal from a backhander after kicking the puck to his twigs blade.
The final score after twenty minutes would be 2-1 for Greenville.
Shots on goal: 14, SAV; 13, GVL
2nd Period
For the second period, the Ghost Pirates went on a scoring streak with no scoring participation from the home team. Nick Granowicz tied the game at 3:40 with Liam Walsh’s assist. The Rabbits kept the game tied for several minutes, but that was also due to the Ghost Pirates not taking quality shots on goal and failing to make connecting plays to muster up a solid attempt.
Minutes into the period, at 15:22, Nicholas Zabaneh broke the tie with another primary assist from Walsh. But the scoring wasn’t over for the Ghost Pirates, as the team would score some insurance a minute later from Riley Hughes. Turnovers cost the Swamp Rabbits. With the team down by two goals, Greenville attempted to make plays in the offensive zone but couldn’t make any good plays and got backchecked heavily with the help of Cormier.
Shots on goal: 20, SAV; 8, GVL
3rd Period
Trailing by two goals, the Swamp Rabbits pressured heavily on Cormier and the Ghost Pirates’ zone. Despite throwing 14 shots on the netminder, nothing would fall through. So the team took a last-minute option: pulling Ingham for the extra man. They did so at 17:04, but managed only a single shot, with other play attempts being checked and blocked away by the visiting team’s defensive core.
With the net empty, Kai Schwindt would get the empty-netter at 17:56 to solidify the Ghost Pirates’ win with a final score of 5-2.
Shots on goal: 10, SAV; 14, GVL
Total shots on goal: 42, SAV; 32, GVL
Three Stars of The Game
Riley Hughes (1G-1A)
Liam Walsh (2A)
Evan Cormier (33 Saves)
The Swamp Rabbits will be back for more hockey next week at South Carolina on Nov. 8 and then at home for Star Wars Night the following day. Meanwhile, the Ghost Pirates will play today, Saturday, Nov. 2 at home against the Atlanta Gladiators.
