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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Dziurzynski Scores Twice in 5-3 Loss to Atlanta

January 16, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


Duluth, GA - Darian Dziurzynski collected his first multi-goal game in the ECHL on Saturday, but it wasn't enough as the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (18-15-6), proud affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, suffered a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Gladiators (24-12-2) at the Infinite Energy Center.

Patrick D'Amico and Brock Higgs each scored twice for the Gladiators, while Mackenzie Skapski stopped 29 shots for Greenville.

D'Amico broke the ice just 6:18 into the opening frame when he tallied his 10th goal of the season. Down the left side, D'Amico carried the puck to the circle and unloaded a slap shot that clipped the crossbar and dropped in over Skapski's left shoulder.

The Swamp Rabbits responded just over a minute later when Dziurzynski lit the lamp to even the score. Ryan Rashid created the attack by developing a 2-on-1 rush down the right wing, before slipping a pinpoint pass to Dziurzynski in the slot. From there, the fourth-year pro settled the puck and pushed a forehand shot underneath goaltender Matt Ginn at the 7:33 mark. Zack LaRue also added a helper.

D'Amico regained Atlanta's advantage at 12:21 of the first period with his second tally of the contest. From the bottom of the left circle, Eric Neiley turned sharply and skated to the slot where he let go of a snap shot off Skapski. The rebound fell to the blue paint and D'Amico crashed the net to jam it home inside the left post.

Higgs made it 3-1 at 13:31 of the second period when he redirected Matt Register's slap shot from the blue line on the power play. With Sean Escobedo in the box for boarding, Register unloaded a blast from the left point that Higgs tipped past Skapski at the doorstep.

The pendulum swung back just 41 seconds later courtesy of Vinny Saponari's first goal with Greenville this season. Down the right wing, Saponari produced a 2-on-1 rush before he delayed with the puck near the hash marks. There, he elevated a perfectly-placed shot just past Ginn's glove to make it 3-2 at the 13:54 mark.

The Gladiators added two goals in the third period from Higgs and Mike Merrifield to increase their lead to three. At 4:55, Merrifield scored his fifth goal of the season which proved to be the game-winner on assists from Tyler Shiplo and J.T. Barnett. Higgs followed that up with his second tally of the game, and 15th of the season, at the 11:32 mark when he tipped Shiplo's shot from the blue line past Skapski's blocker.

Dziurzynski capped the scoring with a shorthanded, breakaway goal at 17:07. With Michael St. Croix in the box serving a bench minor, Joey Holka pushed a brilliant lead pass to Dziurzynski at the Atlanta blue line, where he carried the puck to the slot and beat Ginn on the forehand.

Greenville finished the game 0-for-3 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill. Ginn halted 22 shots in Atlanta's win.

The Gladiators outshot the Swamp Rabbits 34-25.

Next Time Out: The Swamp Rabbits return to action on the road Monday with an early 12:35 p.m. puck drop against the Atlanta Gladiators at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth, Georgia. Fans can follow all of the live action online via ECHL.TV or the free Mixlr audio stream. Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House, the Official Road Watch Party Destination, will also be showing the game live beginning at 12:30 p.m.

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 Swamp Rabbits 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!

Check out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Statistics

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