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ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Swamp Rabbits Win Shootout Thriller over Reading, 4-3

November 28, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


Reading, PA - Josh Nicholls scored twice on Saturday and Jack Combs buried the only tally in a three-round shootout to lead the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (9-9-1), proud ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers and the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack, to a 4-3 victory over the Reading Royals (8-8-1) at Santander Arena.

With the win, Greenville pushed its winning streak to three games, which also set a new season-high for consecutive wins on the road. In addition, goaltender P.J. Musico (4-1-0) extended his personal winning streak to three games with a career-best 41-save performance.

The opening frame was as even as it gets as each squad netted one goal on nine chances. Joe Rehkamp gave Reading a 1-0 advantage just 5:16 into the contest with his third goal of the season. From the right circle, Rehkamp fired a shot on target that was kicked away by Musico's right leg pad, but Rehkamp continued behind the net and retrieved the puck in the left circle and lifted a rebound chance inside the right post.

Just over four minutes later, Nicholls leveled the score at the 9:25 mark with a power-play goal to make it 1-1. With Matt Hatch in the box for tripping, Sean Escobedo sent a lead pass to Nicholls on the right wing, where he went forehand-to-backhand on a breakaway to beat former Greenville netminder Adam Morrison blocker side.

The Royals responded at 6:44 of the second period with a power-play tally of their own courtesy of Robbie Czarnik. As Michael St. Croix sat in the box for hooking, Adam Comrie ripped a shot from the high slot that sailed through traffic, but caught the iron. The rebound caromed to Kevin Young at the top of the left circle, where he unloaded and sent a blast in front that Czarnik tipped for his eighth goal of the season.

Nicholls struck again with his second goal of the game and seventh of the season to tie the contest at 12:32 of the second period. Deep in Reading's zone, Combs slipped a pass to Vinny Saponari at the side of the trapezoid, where the third-year pro centered the puck for Nicholls for the tally.

The Swamp Rabbits earned their first lead of contest at 18:18 of the middle frame when Scott Fleming collected his sixth goal of the season. Justin DaSilva created the chance from the left point by corralling the puck and pushing a shot on target that was redirected by Fleming from the doorstep past Morrison.

With just over two minutes left in regulation, Reading pulled Morrison for the extra attacker and was rewarded with just 80 seconds left courtesy of Mike Pereira. From the low slot and with Musico out of position, Pereira corralled a loose puck and pushed it home to tie the game and force extra hockey.

Both teams had high-quality scoring chances during the five-minute, 3-on-3 overtime session, but came away empty handed. In the shootout, Combs scored the only goal for Greenville, while Crandall, Pereira and Czarnik all missed for Reading.

The contest including two fights that both involved Royals' forward Derek Mathers. Just 2:38 into the first period, Mathers dropped the gloves with Justin DaSilva, before going head-to-head with Tyler Elbrecht at 6:54 of the middle frame.

Morrison (2-4-1) stopped 23 shots in regulation and one of two chances in the shootout. Greenville outshot Reading 44-27 in the contest.

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