ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Combs Nets Hat Trick in 7-4 Victory over Orlando

Published on December 20, 2015 under ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


Greenville, SC - Jack Combs scored his second hat trick of the season on Sunday as the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (13-12-3), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, exploded for a season-high seven goals in a come-from-behind 7-4 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears (10-11-5) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Josh Nicholls (3a) and Michael St. Croix (3a) also contributed three-point efforts, while P.J. Musico (6-3-1) earned the win by making 40 saves on 44 shots between the pipes, which tied a career high for shots against.  

With the victory, the Swamp Rabbits improved to 3-1-2 against the Solar Bears this season and 9-5-3 on SANDLAPPER Securities Rink.

After a scoreless opening frame, each team ignited for three goals in the second period. Orlando took advantage early and built a 3-0 lead courtesy of goals from Max Nicastro, Johnny McInnis and Matt Rupert. Nicastro made it 1-0 just 1:52 into the frame with a power-play goal for his second of the season overall. With Tyler Elbrecht in the box for a slashing minor, Foster funneled the puck from the right wing to the top of the left circle, where Nicastro netted a one-time blast.

The Solar Bears strengthened their advantage nearly five minutes later when McInnis mashed home his sixth goal of the season at 6:45. A drop pass from Chris Clapperton set up a shot for McInnis from the low slot, where he slammed it home for a 2-0 edge.

Orlando added a third goal at the 8:08 mark when Rupert registered his sixth of the season. After receiving a feed from Brenden Miller in the left circle, Rupert buried a quick shot past Musico.

Despite the slow start, the Swamp Rabbits stormed back in a big way with five consecutive goals to take a 5-3 advantage. Combs struck first with a power-play goal that marked his fourth consecutive home contest with a tally. With Clapperton in the box for hooking, Combs gained possession at the bottom of the right circle and threaded a sharp wrister past Massa and inside the right post. Rob Kwiet and St. Croix earned the assists.

Less than two minutes later, Holka scored for the second time in as many games when Elbrecht sent a long pass ahead for Holka, who found himself behind the Solar Bears' defense. The rookie forward went on to bury a forehand shot over Massa's glove on a breakaway.

Greenville knotted the score at three courtesy of Darian Dziurzynski at the 13:42 mark of the second period. Ryan Rashid, who was returned on loan from the AHL's Charlotte Checkers this afternoon, brushed a pass from the left circle to the right post, where Dziurzynski re-directed the puck into the net to record a point in his fifth consecutive home game.

Greenville snatched the lead for good with two goals in a span of 30 seconds early in the third period. Bretton Cameron put the Swamp Rabbits on top just 41 seconds into the frame when Nicholls raced down the left wing and snuck a pass into the blue paint past Massa's right toe pad. From the right post, Cameron slammed it home for his second goal in the last two games.

Richard Nejezchleb made it 5-3 at the 1:11 mark when he beat Massa for his second goal of the season. St. Croix created the attack with a centering feed from the trapezoid, where he found Nejezchleb in the low slot for a one-timer that sailed past Massa and into the cage.

Orlando added its final tally of the contest at 6:00 of the third period when Johnny McInnis collected a power-play goal for his second of the game. With Elbrecht in the box for cross-checking, T.J. Foster powered towards the net and forehanded a shot on target that Musico denied, but the rebounded popped back through the slot to McInnis who buried the second chance to make it 5-4.

Combs sealed the game, and his three-goal performance, with two more tallies late in the third period for the 7-4 final. At the 11:09 mark, Combs cleaned up St. Croix's shot from below the left hash marks during a 3-on-2 rush to make it 6-4. Combs added an empty netter at 18:24 for his team-leading 15th goal of the season. It also marked the third time this season Greenville has scored four goals in one period.

Greenville finished the game 1-for-5 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill. Massa (5-7-1) made 23 saves in the loss, while Orlando outshot Greenville 44-30. The Swamp Rabbits have now scored 13 goals in the last two games combined.

Next Time Out: Greenville returns to action next Saturday with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Atlanta Gladiators in Duluth, Georgia. Fans can follow the action online through ECHL.TV or the free Mixlr app, or by attending the next watch party at the Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House (103 E. Beacon Drive in Greenville), the Official Road Watch Party Destination of the Swamp Rabbits.

Get Social: Follow the Swamp Rabbits all season long and get behind-the-scenes coverage like never before on the team's official Facebook and Twitter pages.

Trolley On Over: Greenville's downtown trolley route has been extended to include a stop at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The expanded route will operate for all Swamp Rabbits' games taking place Thursdays through Sundays during normal trolley service hours.

Call 864-674-7825 or visit SwampRabbits.com for tickets. Bring a group of 15 or more out to a game and receive great discounts, merchandise offers and hospitality opportunities! Call a Swamp Rabbits Account Executive for more information! Get the latest SwampRabbits gear at the "Hop Shop" team store or visit the "Hop Shop" online at SwampRabbits.com/shop to browse the full collection of fan wear and novelties!

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ECHL Stories from December 20, 2015


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