#garrettbartus

Greenville scores six times on beleaguered Norfolk defense BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE NORFOLK, Va. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits took advantage of their top-flight opportunities and trailed just once throughout regulation. Six goals on 38 shots gave the Swamp Rabbits a convincing 6-3 win over the Norfolk Admirals on Friday night at The Scope. It was Greenville's second win in a row, and Norfolk's sixth consecutive loss. Eight combined points from the line of Stephen Pierog, Danny Perez and Brendan Harms carried the day, with Perez's two goals leading the way early. The Swamp Rabbits trailed first and gave up the first goal thanks to an early power play. With Michael Pelech in the box for hooking, Darik Angeli took advantage on a one-timer from the left point to open the scoring. Greenville scored three unanswered goals in response for good measure past goaltender Jeremy Brodeur, who had, up until this point, had not won an ECHL game this season. Perez and Pierog worked magic on the forecheck with hard work to cause all three goals. The first, with work from Pierog, forced a turnover that Perez jumped on and scored with a short-side wrist shot at 5:11. Pierog returned the favor on the power play after evading traffic high in the zone and sifting to a soft area in front of the goal, as Brodeur made initial save on Harms, Pierog bashed home the rebound to establish a lead. Six minutes later, the Swamp Rabbits made the Admirals pay on a comical turnover from behind the goal, and it was Perez who was the last to touch the puck before going over the line. While Norfolk utilized a fluky goal in the middle frame to cut the lead to one thanks to a point shot from Brandon Rumble, the Swamp Rabbits' attack was unrelenting. Tyler Bird did the work on the forecheck to get the puck to Zach Franko at the side of the net. Franko pulled the puck into a high-percentage scoring area and fired the puck home at 15:18 to keep the lead. 52 seconds later, Harms converted on a 2-on-1 break, with assists from Pierog and Perez to put the game out of reach heading into the third period. Both teams exchanged goals in the third—one from pesky defenseman Don Olivieri late, but the Swamp Rabbits found a response of their own late in the period, with Pelech setting up a wide-open Austen Brassard in the slot for his 23rd goal of the season. Greenville's hot shooting streak continued, after shooting 17% the night before, they shot 15.8% on Friday night to lead to the win. The Swamp Rabbits outshot the Admirals 38-35 for the game, and behind 32 saves from Garrett Bartus, picked up win 25—one better than last season—with a chance to get one more. The 2018–19 season comes to a close on Saturday, April 6 against the Norfolk Admirals. The puck drops from The Scope at 7:00 p.m.

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Swamp Rabbits tie the score twice, but can't break through BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits put forth a strong effort on home ice in the home finale, tying the Orlando Solar Bears twice. However, the Solar Bears struck twice in the final five minutes of the second period put them on top for good in a 5-2 win over the Swamp Rabbits on Sunday afternoon at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Otto Somppi struck at the 15:44 mark of the second period on a broken play that found its way into the net, and Dylan Fitze converted on a 3-on-2 break in the final minute of the middle frame to take what once was a 2-2 tie to a 4-2 lead. The Solar Bears added an empty netter from Somppi, who has victimized the Swamp Rabbits all season long, to put the game away in the midst of a 6-on-4 power play chance. The Solar Bears scored twice shorthanded in the game. Orlando struck first to open the scoring at 1:17 and took the lead to start the second period, but the Swamp Rabbits had the answer. Mathieu Foget opened the scoring early on a defensive breakdown. Mitch Hults found him uncovered in front of the net for a one-timer that caught Garrett Bartus down and out for the opening tally. It would take 13 minutes for Greenville to respond, but they did so on a neutral zone turnover. Stephen Pierog intelligently shot the puck off of Connor Ingram's far pad, and the rebound posted right out to Danny Elser, who poked home his second goal in his last three games, to even the score. Orlando pressed hard on the penalty kill and after Bartus stonewalled a few chances, could not stop the Solar Bears' best. Troy Bourke worked a 2-on-1 break, and Alex Schoenborn connected to give Orlando the lead again. Just a minute and 20 seconds later, the Swamp Rabbits responded. Fresh newcomer Danny Perez jumped onto a loose puck in the offensive zone off of a tie-up draw and fired a seed short side to tie the game at two. It was his first pro goal in his first pro game out of the University of Maine. The game ended with some fireworks—two fights, to be precise—and as the horn sounded to end the game, the players took a lap around The Well to salute the fans. Both teams in both matchups were unable to strike on the power play against struggling penalty killing units, but it was Orlando that scored three shorthanded goals in the two-game series. Orlando won the season series with five wins in nine meetings. The Swamp Rabbits head to the road to take on the Norfolk Admirals for the final three games of the season starting Wednesday, April 3 on ESPN Upstate, and Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network.

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Greenville throws the kitchen sink, but can't slip past desperate Jacksonville club BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Jacksonville Icemen played a trademark defensive game and recovered from an early mistake. Two unanswered goals, in response to an early tally by the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, led them to a 2-1 win on Thursday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Kamerin Nault returned to the lineup for the Swamp Rabbits and opened the scoring with his 12th goal in 15 games at the 1:56 mark of the first period. A wayward dump in by Clint Lewis bounced off of Jacksonville Icemen goaltender Angus Redmond. Nault pounced on the puck, deked to the backhand and scored to lift the Swamp Rabbits to the lead for the fourth consecutive game. Redmond, however, made up for that mistake and made 28 saves on the night to pick up the win. He had to stop the kitchen sink being thrown at him in the third period—15 shots—and several breakaways and 2-on-1 chances. The Icemen also helped their goaltender out with two unanswered goals to erase Greenville's lead. The only power play of the night helped Jacksonville's league-worst power play get on the board. A give-and-go between Kris Newbury and David Broll ended up with a goal on a rebound opportunity for Broll, his sixth of the season, six minutes after Nault's goal. It took until the second period for the Icemen to get the eventual game-winner. A Swamp Rabbits neutral zone turnover ended up going the other direction quickly, and Newbury found a wide-open Cameron Critchlow, whose deke to the backhand bested Garrett Bartus to give Jacksonville the one-goal advantage. Jacksonville took eight of the nine meetings between the two teams this season. Six of them were decided by one goal, and the last three were decided by a 2-1 score. Fan Appreciation Night is right around the corner! The Swamp Rabbits will host the Orlando Solar Bears on Friday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, go to SwampRabbits.com.

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Greenville survives shot barrage, powers through for the win BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — Up against the Kansas City Mavericks for the first and only time of the season, the Greenville Swamp Rabbits were aided by a hat trick from Kamerin Nault in his return to the lineup. His added offense pushed the Swamp Rabbits over the Mavericks 5-3 on Thursday night at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Nault posted a goal in the first period, the second period, and the third period, to complete his hat trick, and give him 11 goals in his first 13 games as a professional. It was his first game since suffering an injury on February 23. His goal, that capped the trick, along with Brendan Harms' goal in the third, pushed the team forward in the midst of a 3-3 tie. Harms converted on a pass from Thomas Ebbing on a defensive zone turnover, and Nault on a three-way passing play between longtime linemates Austen Brassard and Michael Pelech to post goals four and five on the night. It was a game that featured four lead changes, including two Kansas City leads. The Mavs responded to Nault's opening tally halfway through the first period with quick strikes. Jordan Klimek fired away from the point to tie the game at one, and Darian Dziurzynski posted his 26th goal of the season on a pretty toe drag on the power play. It was the first power-play goal scored against the Swamp Rabbits since February 17. Down 2-1 late in the first period, Greenville pounced on a neutral zone turnover to score the equalizer. Erik Robichaud and Zach Franko sent defenseman Adam Larkin on his way on a partial breakaway, and his snap shot bested Mason McDonald to tie the game at two. The Mavs and Rabbits exchanged goals in the middle frame on the same power play. With C.J. Eick in the box for tripping, a defensive turnover by the Swamp Rabbits ended up in the back of the net, with Rocco Carzo burying the biscuit. Under two minutes later, Nault snapped a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that found the back of the net to tie the game at three. It was a second period that saw Kansas City post 21 of their 48 shots on goal, in which Garrett Bartus stood tall with 45 saves, a season high. He also had to stand tall against six Mavs power play chances, as the team killed off five of them. In contrast, a slumping Swamp Rabbits' power play went 1-for-5 on the night. The home stretch continues against the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, go to SwampRabbits.com.

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Jacksonville puts up another defensive gem in Greenville BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits cut the Jacksonville Icemen's lead in half in the third period, but could not complete the comeback. The Icemen once again held onto a lead established early in the game and defeated the Swamp Rabbits 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Erik Robichaud's first professional goal proved to fall just short of the mark, as the Swamp Rabbits' final foray in the closing minute was stopped flat. Greenville could not get clean possession of the puck in the final minute, and could not get goaltender Garrett Bartus to the bench for the extra attacker, and failed to get the equalizer. Robichaud took a feed in the center from Jake Bolton and streaked into the offensive zone past a defender, and snapped the shot past Jacksonville goaltender Ken Appleby for Greenville's only goal at the 6:03 mark of the third period. Other than that, the cool and calm Appleby stopped 25 other opportunities fired his way. Jacksonville, like the prior two games in the three games played against the Icemen, jumped out to early leads and held the Swamp Rabbits off the board in the opening two periods. One bugaboo that has haunted the Swamp Rabbits all season long has been defensive play while on the power play. The Icemen exacerbated that deficiency by striking shorthanded. Dajon Mingo broke up the play at the defensive blue line, started a rush, and fed the puck to a trailing Garet Hunt. His initial shot was stopped by Bartus, but Kris Newbury cleaned up the crumbs to open the scoring. Jacksonville struck again in the second period, with the roles reversed. Newbury hid behind the net after a zone keep. His no-look centering pass connected with Hunt, the game's first star, streaking off the bench. His shot eluded Bartus' glove hand and doubled Jacksonville's established lead. Greenville's penalty kill continued to be a source of strength, as they have not allowed a power play goal since February 23. Jacksonville's three chances were held off the board. The Icemen's ability to hem the Swamp Rabbits in their own zone caused fits all day. Jacksonville was able to post double-digit shots on goal in all three periods and outshot the Swamp Rabbits 34-26 for the game. Bartus made 32 saves in the game in the losing cause. With nine games left in the regular season, Greenville will now set their sights on the last non-South Division opponent of the season, the Kansas City Mavericks, on Thursday, March 21 at home. For tickets, go to SwampRabbits.com.

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Orlando strikes three times in the final frame (PHOTO: Fernando Medina) BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Solar Bears scored three times in the third period, capitalized on the fatigue of penalty trouble and turned the tides. Orlando defeated the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 5-3 on Saturday night at Amway Center. While the Solar Bears did not strike on their seven power play opportunities, they slowly and surely wore down the Swamp Rabbits with repeated and extended time in the offensive zone. After the Swamp Rabbits outshot Orlando 13-12 in the first period, Orlando outshot Greenville 26-11 the rest of the way. The Bears' lead was established in quick fashion. Jackson Playfair took one of three Otto Somppi assists on the night out in front of the goal and took a one-timer that gave them the lead for the third time that night. On the ensuing shift, 16 seconds later, Trevor Olson scored from a bad angle to extend Orlando's lead to 4-2 that quickly. While Greenville would get a goal in response from Johno May, a power play tally on an exceptional slap pass from the left circle by Kamerin Nault at 7:08, just under a minute after Olson's goal, the Solar Bears re-established their two-goal lead 45 seconds later on a shot off the draw by Mike Monfredo. Greenville responded from two deficits and got outstanding goaltending from Garrett Bartus to keep things locked down. Even after Orlando took the lead 95 seconds into the game after a one-time blast by Playfair off of a faceoff, Thomas Ebbing pulled the game even on a Greenville faceoff win, and a shot from Chad Duchesne. The goal ended a 16-game goal drought for Ebbing. Orlando took the lead in the second thanks to Zach Frye, but again, Greenville to the rescue. Brendan Harms on a scored shorthanded breakaway on a feed from Michael Pelech, and that ended a 10-game drought for him. The penalty kill, while detrimental to the flow of the game, stood letter perfect at 7-for-7, including 5-for-5 in the second period alone. Bartus ended the game with 33 saves. Ouellette stopped 21 Greenville bids. The rematch with Orlando comes early, a 1:30 p.m. faceoff at Amway Center on Sunday, February 24. Catch the action on the Swamp Rabbits Broadcast Network, or on ECHL.TV.

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Bitzer slams the door shot on hot Greenville offense BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE DULUTH, Ga. — Gladiators goaltender Michael Bitzer made 28 saves for his first professional shutout, and the hot Greenville offense was halted completely by the Atlanta defense. The Gladiators defeated the Greenville Swamp Rabbits 3-0 on Friday night at Infinite Energy Arena. In a game with a four-point swing in the standings, and following an effort where the Gladiators gave up eight goals against the night prior, Atlanta found a way to keep a Greenville offense that had scored 15 goals in the past two games off of the board. Michael Bitzer spelled Sean Bonar in goal and did what he needed to do to grab first-star honors and the shutout. He made 10 saves in both the first and third periods. The key turning point came when Atlanta found a way in the second period to strike twice. Joseph Widmar, off of a Greenville defensive zone turnover, deflected a Nick Bligh pass through the five-hole of Garrett Bartus to start the scoring. Just two minutes later, Joel Messner scored on a scramble in the defensive zone to double the lead. Daniel Leavens capped the scoring with a wraparound goal, an insurance tally, just under three minutes into the third period which extended the lead to 3-0. Bartus' first two saves of the night were grade-A quality, both on Justin MacDonald, the reigning ECHL Forward of the Week. He made yet another on Leavens early in the second period to keep the game scoreless. Both teams were held off of the scoresheet on the power play. The Swamp Rabbits get back to action on Sunday, February 17 in the first-ever matchup with the Newfoundland Growlers at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available at SwampRabbits.com.

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Bonar slams the door shut on Greenville again BY: Jordan Kuhns, Greenville Swamp Rabbits BOXSCORE DULUTH, Ga. — The Greenville Swamp Rabbits ran into a buzzsaw on Wednesday night on the road. An Atlanta Gladiators team firing on all cylinders utilized a strong power play and got another shutout effort from goaltender Sean Bonar to blank the Swamp Rabbits 4-0 at the Infinite Energy Arena. Atlanta's power play went 3-for-5 in the game, with the first three goals coming on the man advantage. In his first game as a Gladiator, Daniel Leavens picked up the opening tally on a rebound opportunity from a point shot to give Atlanta the 1-0 lead late in the first period. Derek Nesbitt and Joel Messner picked up the assists. Nesbitt and Nolan LaPorte both tallied on the power play in back-to-back periods. Nesbitt converted on a 2-on-1 break in which the pass across deflected into the goal to double the lead, and LaPorte uncorked a one-timer from the left point on a clean faceoff win. LaPorte sealed the game up with an empty net goal with just seconds left in regulation. Bonar has allowed just one goal in his last three starts against the Swamp Rabbits and made 20 saves in his latest shutout effort. The Swamp Rabbits were buoyed by outstanding goaltending from Garrett Bartus, whose numerous key saves kept the team in the game. However, it was the Gladiators' special teams that were just too much for the Swamp Rabbits to overcome. He made 39 saves on 42 shots fired his way. The Swamp Rabbits return home to host the Orlando Solar Bears on Friday, February 1 at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, go to SwampRabbits.com.

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