ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Preview: Swamp Rabbits Close out Series against Norfolk Tonight

April 6, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


THE STORY COMING IN

The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, travel to Norfolk, Virginia for the final time this season to battle the Norfolk Admirals tonight at 7:15 p.m. Greenville enters the contest on a season-long seven-game slide (0-5-2) dating back to March 19, including a 3-1 setback to Kalamazoo in their last outing on Saturday. Rookie forward Tommy Thompson scored his first professional goal that night, but the Wings clipped the Swamp Rabbits with two second-period goals and an empty netter in the third. Greenville hasn't dropped eight straight games since the franchise moved to the Upstate in 2010 and will look to avoid that tonight.

THE MATCHUP

Tonight's game marks the fifth and final meeting between the Swamp Rabbits and Admirals this season, and the third of three matchups in Virginia. Greenville is 2-2-0 against Norfolk this season (and in the all-time series) including a 6-0 shutout at the Scope on Nov. 25 and a 4-3 overtime victory in their last meeting on Feb. 13 at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Scott Fleming capped a two-point performance with the overtime winner that night, while Vinny Saponari also notched multiple points (1g, 1a).  

VIEW FROM NORFOLK

The Admirals spent each of the last 15 seasons in the American Hockey League as the top farm team of the Chicago Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, or Anaheim Ducks. However, on Jan. 29, 2015, it was confirmed the franchise would be relocated to San Diego (Gulls) and be replaced in Norfolk by the former Bakersfield Condors ECHL team. Led by head coach Eric Veilleux, the Admirals enter tonight's contest on a three-game losing streak, but have won three straight games at home. In their last outing on Sunday, Braden Christoffer scored his 11th goal of the season and former Greenville netminder Nic Riopel made 36 saves in a 3-1 loss to Reading. Riopel is 17th among league goaltenders with a 2.63 goals-against-average in 32 games. Norfolk is fifth in the East Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference, mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.

HE'S GOT HART

Rookie forward Brian Hart will return to the Swamp Rabbits lineup this evening after he was reassigned from the AHL's Syracuse Crunch by the Tampa Bay Lightning. A native of Cumberland, Maine, Hart boasts 12 points (3g, 9a) and two penalty minutes in 33 games with the Swamp Rabbits this season, including three goals in his last seven contests. The 22-year-old has also earned five call-ups to Syracuse this season, recording two goals and 14 penalty minutes in 24 appearances. He notched his first career AHL goal on Dec. 26 against Springfield.

WATCHING THE NICHOLLS ADD UP

New York Rangers prospect Josh Nicholls is a key piece to Greenville's top offensive line that has flourished in recent weeks. The 23-year-old is on a team-best six-game point streak entering the final stretch of the season and has recorded eight points (2g, 6a) during that span. Nicholls is third on the team in goals (18) and points (41) and multi-point games (11). Greenville's longest point streak this season is seven games.

TOP OF THE CHARTS

Centering the Swamp Rabbits' top line is third-year forward Scott Fleming, who had a season-best seven-game point streak snapped on Friday against Kalamazoo. Still, the 28-year-old boasts 12 points (4g, 8a) in the last nine games and ranks second on the club with 13 multi-point contests this season. In addition, Fleming enters Wednesday's matchup with Norfolk on a seven-game point streak and five-game assist streak on the road dating back to Feb. 28 at Brampton. He leads Greenville in points (54), assists (33), plus-minus (+18) and is tied for first in power-play goals (6) this season.

JACK'D UP

The final piece to Greenville's first line is veteran scoring threat Jack Combs, who has been on a tear since mid-March. Combs has recorded 11 goals in his last 10 games and seven multi-point efforts during that span. Overall, the 28-year-old has notched 19 points (11g, 8a) in his last 11 contests. He leads the Swamp Rabbits in goals (27) and multi-point games (16) despite playing just 40 contests in the ECHL this season. In fact, Combs is tied for fourth in league goal-scoring despite playing so few games. Greenville's top line of Nicholls, Fleming and Combs has combined for 26 of the team's last 39 points (66.7%).  

QUICK HITS

Greenville is 18-2-4 when leading after two periods... The Swamp Rabbits are tied for eighth in the ECHL with eight shorthanded goals scored... The club is tied for fifth with 17 games being decided beyond regulation.

PARTY AT PALMETTO

Palmetto Restaurant and Ale House, the Official Road Game Watch Party Destination of the Swamp Rabbits located at 103 E. Beacon Drive in Greenville, will host an Official Watch Party for tonight's penultimate road game. The 7:15 p.m. contest will be streamed live on several television screens and the watch party will include special appearances by captain Bretton Cameron and defenseman Rob Kwiet.

AFFILIATE REPORT

New York Rangers (45-26-9, 3rd Metro): Next vs. New York Islanders - Tomorrow, 7 p.m. ET

Hartford Wolf Pack (37-30-3, 6th Atlantic): Next @ Springfield - Friday, 7 p.m. ET

Check out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Statistics



ECHL Stories from April 6, 2016


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