The Greenville Swamp Rabbits defeated the Florida Everblades 5-4 Friday in Greenville, South Carolina, handing Florida its first loss of the season. Blake Bennett scored twice for Greenville, including the game-winning goal with just over eight minutes remaining in the third period. The physical game featured nine goals and nine penalties.
Greenville opened the scoring when Bennett converted a power-play opportunity against Florida goaltender Cam Johnson. The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Everblades 9-5 in the first period. Florida conceded the opening goal for the second consecutive game.
Greenville builds lead before Florida rallies
Jordan Sambrook tied the game at 1 early in the second period with a shot past Greenville goaltender Mattias Sholl. Mike O’Leary and Chaz Smedsrud then scored for the Swamp Rabbits before Ryan O’Hara added a power-play goal, his third of the season, to make it 4-1. The second period produced six goals and seven penalties.
Florida answered with goals from Tiernan Shoudy and Devon Paliani. Paliani scored during a five-on-three advantage and extended his point streak to five games. Sambrook and Shoudy each recorded two points, while Shoudy finished plus three.
Isaac Nurse tied the game at four early in the third period, completing Florida’s comeback. The Everblades controlled the shot margin in the final period, 12-5, but Bennett scored his second goal to restore Greenville’s lead. The teams finished with 28 shots apiece.
Florida went 1-for-5 on the power play, while Greenville converted twice on five opportunities. Greenville became the first team to score multiple power-play goals against the Everblades since the Kelly Cup Finals. The loss was Florida’s third straight in Greenville.
Everblades set for rematch
Florida will face the Swamp Rabbits again on Oct. 31 at 2:05 p.m. in Greenville. Paliani and Broten Sabo will enter the rematch with five-game point streaks. The meeting gives Florida an opportunity to respond after its first loss of the season and address Greenville’s two power-play goals.
FSB Take
Florida erased a three-goal deficit and outshot Greenville in the third period, but it could not complete the comeback. Greenville’s two power-play goals provided a decisive difference in a game that ended level at four before Bennett’s winner. Florida’s next meeting with the Swamp Rabbits will come in the same city where the Everblades have now lost three consecutive games.
Source: Original report