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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Leedahl Helps Swamp Rabbits Push to Overtime against Stingrays

March 6, 2018 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


Greenville, SC - The Greenville Swamp Rabbits (20-32-6-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, posted a pair of third period goals to come back from 3-1 deficit, forcing overtime for the third time in five games. The Swamp Rabbits came short of victory by inches in the third and eventually fell in overtime to the South Carolina Stingrays (37-12-6-1). Greenville has needed overtime four times this year to decide a game against South Carolina.

South Carolina managed to hold the Swamp Rabbits off the score board in the first period. Greenville earned quality opportunities early in the night but one quick turnover late in the frame turned helped the Stingrays open the scoring. Matt Salhany recorded his first goal of the season in transition from Nick Roberto who sped up the ice on a 2-on-1. The wingers connected on a pass across the ice to the right side of the crease before finding the net at 16:52 of the first period.

Moments later the Swamp Rabbits wound up on the penalty kill. On the Stingrays power play, a puck pinballed toward the left side of the net before Steven Whitney fired it across the crease. Kelly Zajac was awaiting the rolling puck on the right side of the net to score his 16th of the season.

Greenville entered the break with a new mentality, rallying for 11 shots on net. The club turned it around on the Stingrays close to the halfway point of the period. Greenville stole South Carolina's breakout pass as Evan Jasper and Joe Basaraba helped lead Dawson Leedahl in the right circle. The winger launched a lasered shot past the blocker of Parker Milner in net. The goal cut the lead in half and was Leedahl's eighth of the season.

The Swamp Rabbits held down the Stingrays offense until the final two minutes when Dylan Margonari battled for a loose puck in the crease. A long shot from Joey Leach slipped through the pads of Brad Barone and rest a foot away from the goal line as the Stingrays forward dove out to tally his 14th of the season.

Trailing by two goals in the third period, the Swamp Rabbits put a game-high 12 shots on net and opened a surge of offense in the middle of the frame. Leedahl was the final piece to a quick moving play around the crease. Jasper helped steal the puck from behind the net and fed Basaraba in the slot for a quick shot. The rookie tallied his second goal of the game on a rebound that kicked right to his stick at 8:57 of the third period.

Greenville went on the power play one minute later and only 10 seconds later Matt Prapavessis tied the game. Leedahl found the score sheet for the third time in the game as he launched a pass from the right corner across to the blue liner on the left side. Prapavessis' wrist shot beat Milner inside of the right post to equalize the game at 10:17.

Wade Murphy came inches from taking the lead two minutes later. The Swamp Rabbits winger fired a shot that was slowed by Milner but rolled toward the goal line. The puck came right to the red paint before Leach quickly reached back and cleared the puck from the crease. The referee ruled no goal on the ice and after discussion upheld the call.

After a close battle through the remaining eight minutes of play, the Swamp Rabbits and Stingrays forced the game to overtime. Zajac pushed the Stingrays into the winner's circle after a collision in the corner. The forward freed the puck up and then skated to the front of the net for a Steven Whitney pass. The veteran outlasted Barone and slipped the puck into the net for his second goal of the game, and the game-winner.

Greenville heads to North Charleston, South Carolina on Friday night for the team's second game of the week against the Stingrays. The 7:05 p.m. game will be Greenville's final contest at the North Charleston Coliseum this season. Greenville wraps up a four-game week on Saturday and Sunday on home ice for Heroes Night presented by Fluor and Scholars Book Club Night presented by Duke Energy.

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