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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Everson's Hat Trick Leads Atlanta Past Greenville in Overtime

March 18, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


Greenville, SC - Atlanta's Max Everson scored a hat trick on Friday, including the game-winner in overtime, as the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (27-26-8), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, suffered a 3-2 loss to the Gladiators (30-25-7) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.

Brian Hart and Kodie Curran each found the back of the net for Greenville, helping the Swamp Rabbits capture one point. However, the setback dropped the Swamp Rabbits to 13-12-7 on SANDLAPPER Securities Rink and 5-6-1 against Atlanta this season.

Greenville continues to rank 12th in the Eastern Conference standings and now sits eight points behind eighth-place Elmira.

Following a scoreless opening frame, Hart helped Greenville get on the board in the second period, scoring his eighth goal of season just 64 seconds into the frame. From the trapezoid, Scott Fleming slipped the puck to Hart in the trapezoid, where the rookie forward skated back to the corner and ripped a sharp-angle shot just inside the left post and past goaltender Kent Patterson's glove. It was also Hart's second tally in the last three games.

Atlanta answered with a shorthanded goal at 18:31 of the second period courtesy of Everson's 12th tally of the season. With Ian Barteaux in the box for tripping, Everson corralled the puck in the neutral zone and set up a 2-on-1 attack in transition with Mike Merrifield to his left. Everson guided the puck to Merrifield and got it right back at the bottom of the right circle, where the rookie netted a one-timer through Mackenzie Skapski's five-hole to even the score.

Greenville regained its advantage just 23 seconds later with a power-play goal from Curran. With Murovich still in the box continuing to serve a tripping minor, Curran capitalized for his sixth goal of the season. Michael St. Croix set up the play from the right circle where he funneled the puck to Bretton Cameron below the goal line before the latter guided a feed through traffic to back to the circle for Curran. From there, Curran turned to the backhand and lifted a shot over Ginn at the 18:54 mark.

The Gladiators knotted the game for a second time less than a minute into the third period. With St. Croix in the box for slashing, Everson converted on a power-play for his second goal of the game and 13th of the season. Merrifield funneled the puck to the slot where Everson gathered the pass and delivered a forehand shot past Skapski's glove and inside the top right corner at 0:57.

In overtime, Everson set up at the right point and hammered a slap shot through traffic and past Skapski's blocker just 38 seconds in for the 3-2 final score.

Greenville finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill. Skapski (4-12-2) made 34 saves in the loss, while Ginn (13-12-3) halted 27 shots in the win.

The Gladiators outshot the Swamp Rabbits 37-29. It was the 11th time in 12 meetings that Atlanta has outshot Greenville head-to-head.

Next Time Out: The Swamp Rabbits return to action tomorrow with a 7:05 p.m. rematch against the Atlanta Gladiators at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth, Georgia. Fans can follow all of the live action via the Mixlr audio stream or ECHL.TV. The Official Road Watch Party Destination, the Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House located at 103 E. Beacon Drive, will also show the game live beginning at 7 p.m.

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