On January 8th and 9th, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits hit the road to Indy as they took on the Fuel for the first time this season. In both games, the Swamp Rabbits came close, however, would lose in the extra overtime frame.
Starting on January 8th, it was forward Greg Meireles striking first, which would give the Swamp Rabbits an early lead. Unfortunately, it only lasted so long, as Spencer Watson responded the following minute, this knotting the game up at one apiece. Approximately three minutes later, winger Karch Bachman scored a shorthanded goal, this allowing Greenville to lead again, now 2-1.
DJ Busdeker helped to cut Indy’s deficit with a power play goal to knot the game a second time. Halfway through the period, Nick Poehling scored the frame’s final goal with an assist from his brother to regain the lead for Grenville.
Onwards now to the second, it only took 14 seconds, as defensemen Willie Raskob and winger Nic Pierog made the score 4-3 in favour of Indy. Countering the go-ahead goal, Liam Pecararo netted one of his own, which would tie the game after 40 minutes of play.
Entering the third and final period, Spencer Watson scored his second of the night, this allowing the Fuel to regain their lead, 5-4. Keeping the Swamp Rabbits at bay, Greenville faced a struggle to respond, but with approximately five minutes remaining, Karch Bachman also tallied his second of the night, which would push the game into sudden death overtime.
During the seven-minute frame, it was forward Matt Marcinew playing hero for Indy, as he slid in the puck past Greenville backstop John Lethemon. That secured the victory for Indy, beating Greenville 3-2, their second win of the homestand.
On Saturday January 9th, the scoring for the Swamp Rabbits didn’t begin until Max Zimmer scored his fourth of the season with just three minutes left in the game’s second period.
Moving along to the third, it was forward Matthew Wedman who doubled their lead, this putting them up over Indy 2-0. Later on in the frame, forward Matt Marcinew and winger Spencer Watson helped Indy come back, knotting the game at two apiece. That would be all for regulation, as for the second straight game, this sent the meeting to overtime.
Just two minutes into the extra frame, it was forward Matt Marcinew with his third of the series, as the Indy Fuel completed their sweep of the Swamp Rabbits. Dropping both games against Indy, the Swamp Rabbits record stands at 5-3-3-2. The team continues their road trip on Wednesday as the visit the Solar Bears before returning back home.
Puck drop at Orlando’s Amway Center is scheduled to fall at 7:00pmET. The two teams square off twice more, with puck drop falling at 7:00 on both Friday and Saturday.
