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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Swamp Rabbits Too Bright for Solar Bears on Thursday

December 10, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


Greenville, SC - Michael St. Croix scored twice on Thursday to help the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (11-11-2), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, capture a 6-2 victory over the Orlando Solar Bears (9-8-4) at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. It marked the fifth time this season the Swamp Rabbits have scored six goals in a contest.

Jack Combs (1g, 1a) and Josh Nicholls (1g, 1a) each contributed with a two-point performance as well, while Jeff Malcolm (5-1-2) made 30 saves between the pipes. With the win, Malcolm extended his unbeaten in regulation streak to seven straight games at home and the Swamp Rabbits improved to 7-5-2 on SANDLAPPER Securities Rink this season.

Greenville also improved to third place in the South Division standings (24 points).

The Swamp Rabbits came out firing and opened up a four-goal advantage before the Solar Bears could find the scoreboard. Greenville made it 1-0 at 7:31 of the opening frame with the club's first shorthanded goal of the season. With Troy Donnay in the box for hooking, Rob Kwiet gained possession and led an odd-man rush down the ice before a pass across ricocheted off Brad Richard and back to him. With goaltender Ryan Massa out of position, Kwiet regained possession and buried a forehand shot for his fifth tally this season.

St. Croix expanded Greenville's advantage at 17:23 of the first period when he attempted to jam the puck under Massa in front of the cage. After Massa stopped the initial chance, the netminder lost the puck beneath his pads. It ultimately redirected off a Solar Bears' defensemen and into an open net. St. Croix was credited with his third goal of the season, while Zach LaRue, in his ECHL debut, and Sean Escobedo recorded the helpers.

The Swamp Rabbits strengthened their lead with the only goal in the second frame at the 16:10 mark. After Richard Nejezchleb muscled the puck into Orlando's zone, Nicholls and Jack Combs teamed up on a 2-on-1 opportunity to beat Massa. Nicholls slipped the puck to Combs at the left post, where Combs slammed it home for his team-leading 10th goal of the season. In addition, Nicholls also recorded his 100th professional point with an assist.

Bretton Cameron made it 4-0 just 11 seconds into the final frame when he netted his seventh goal of the season. After a give-and-go with Scott Fleming from the right point, Cameron slipped the puck to St. Croix at the back door. St. Croix immediately fed the puck back to Cameron, who pushed it past Massa's left leg for the tally.

T.J. Foster put Orlando on the board at 9:49 of the third period with his eighth goal of the season. Foster started the attack with a backhand wraparound chance that was halted by Combs in front, but the rebound fell right back to Foster who guided a forehand shot past Malcolm's blocker.

St. Croix collected his second goal of the season just 49 seconds later to regain Greenville's four-goal advantage. From the neutral zone, Kodie Curran sent a lead pass to St. Croix behind the Solar Bears' defense, where the third-year forward went forehand-to-backhand to beat Massa stick side.

Foster made it 5-2 at the 12:21 mark when he funneled the puck to the crease from the bottom of the right circle, where it caromed off a skate and underneath Malcolm. It was Foster's second goal of the contest and ninth of the season.

Nicholls capped the scoring with just 90 seconds left when he capitalized on a shorthanded breakaway for his ninth goal this season. Combs and Donnay each earned an assist.

Greenville finished the game 0-for-2 on the power play, but 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. Massa (4-4-0) made 28 saves in the loss, while the Swamp Rabbits outshot Orlando 34-32.      

Youth Jersey Giveaway: The Swamp Rabbits return to SANDLAPPER Securities Rink at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena tomorrow for a 7 p.m. rematch against the Orlando Solar Bears. The first 1,000 kids 12 and younger at tomorrow's game will take home a limited edition Swamp Rabbits' youth jersey courtesy of HOT 98.1! Fans are also encouraged to take advantage of the Greenville News Family Fun Pack on Friday when the Swamp Rabbits rematch against the Orlando Solar Bears at 7 p.m. The Greenville News Family Fun Pack features four (4) red-level tickets, four (4) hot dogs, four (4) bags of chips, four (4) fountain drinks and two (2) Swamp Rabbits' foam fingers for just $60! Doors open at 6 p.m.

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