Greenville, SC – Game two was up next, as the Orlando Solar Bears and Greenville Swamp Rabbits went head-on for another round of South division semi-final playoffs in the ECHL’s Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Solar Bears were 1-0 before game two after they took game one in the first overtime from Spencer Kerestens’s goal.
1st Period
In a parallel fashion, the Swamp Rabbits would again dominate the first period, with the majority of their ice time being in Orlando’s zone. At 4:30, Brayden Low for the Solar Bears would high-stick Tyler Inamoto and usher in a scuffle with mitts being dropped for a good old-fashioned hockey fight. As a result of the penalties, the Rabbits would go on the power play. The Rabbits would put up two shots on Fitzpatrick during the power play, but the netminder for Orlando would deny any goal from occurring. Then, later on, the Solar Bears would have a few looks towards the end of the first period as they would gain a power play at 16:32. Several plays on Ingham were close to becoming a 1-0 lead for Orlando, but Greenville PK core was at it again for dominant defense. Shots on goal: 4 Orlando, 15 Greenville.
2nd Period
After over 80 minutes of hockey played in the playoffs so far, the Rabbits would finally get on the board. Josh McKechney would open up scoring at 2:28 as he netted a top-shelf goal on Fitzpatrick.
Then at 3:06, Bobby Russell would take a five-minute major for elbowing and send the Rabbits on a long penalty kill. But even with the five-minute match power play, the Solar Bears would only be able to post two shots on Ingham and get severely stomped by the Rabbits’ PK core. After the penalty was killed off, the Rabbits would continue to pressure the Solar Bears, and it would eventually pay off again. With a good faceoff win and zone control, the Rabbits would be able to score from the star point maker, Carter Souch, netting it with high velocity. And after forty minutes, the score would be 2-0 in favor of Greenville. Shots on goal: 6 Orlando, 16 Greenville.
3rd Period
The Solar Bears would start out the period strong as they would score two goals in a row. Brayden Low would score first at 2:09, and Spencer Kersten would score his second of the playoffs at 3:45. After the two were scored in such a short period of time, Jacob Ingham would get pulled, as Luke Richardson would take his place to set the tone for the Greenville team. Perhaps the Rabbits would recalibrate their performance, as less than a minute later, Tanner Eberle would respond and break the tie with a 3-2 lead at 4:36. Afterwards, both teams would provoke pandemonium towards the 10 minute mark, as a handful of penalties would be called; Including a boarding call on J.D Greenway, and three roughing calls – two of which were on the Bears. As things got settled and normal, sort of calm, hockey resumed, the Bears would take a penalty at 13:41. But the Solar Bears would take over and kill off the penalty with much ease as they would only allow one shot on goal and then take over to shoot on Richardson’s net while they were on the kill. The Orlando team would then make some attempts on Richardson’s net, but the netminder from Barrie, Ontario, would make some incredible saves on his second postseason performance. At 18:50, Quinn Olson would swing and score near the crease after being pressured by a Solar Bear. Olson’s goal would be his first career goal in the ECHL. With a final score of 4-2, the Swamp Rabbits would take this game and tie the series by one. But the series isn’t over yet, as the two still have more to play and three slated at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida.
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