Game on: the Swamp Rabbits' 5-goal outburst results in a 7-4 win and sweep of home-and-home series with the Gladiators

Preview: Greenville Swamp Rabbits (24-33-6-2/56 points/7th place in the ECHL South) vs Atlanta Gladiators (26-29-6-2/60 points/6th place in the ECHL South)

Tonight's game (March 29th at 7pm EST at the Gas South District) sees two division rivals locking horns in the second game of a home-and-home series.

While the Greenville Swamp Rabbits are current cellar dwellers, their 5-3 win in last night's game deal a blow to the Atlanta Gladiators' playoff hopes (they are still alive mathematically). Leading scorers Carter Savoia (22 goals/20 assists/42 points) and Stepan Timofeyev (15 goals/25 assists/40 points) look to sweep the series and lead their offense (2.6 goals per game) against the Glads' defense (allowing 3.3 goals per game) and goaltender Ethan Haider (16-12-1-1 with 3 shutouts, a 3.16 goals allowed average, and a .893 save percentage).

Despite the daunting playoff situation, Atlanta's focus on earning a split and improving in the standings is ever-present. Leading scorers Cody Sylvester (23 goals/20 assists/43 points) and Derek Topatigh (11 goals/30 assists/41 points) look to put pressure on Greenville goaltender Mattias Sholl (his first start) and a Swamp Rabbit defense allowing 3.5 goals per game) and run some game on the Retro Gaming Night theme.

Game recap: The Swamp Rabbits go on a 5-0 scoring spree to win the game and sweep the home-and-home series

The Gladiators sprint out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Alex Young (his 10th at the 8:10 mark of the 1st period assisted by Carson Denomie) and Nick Wong (his 1st at the 10:26 mark of the 1st period assisted by Jeremy Hanzel). The Swamp Rabbits would make it a 2-1 game just 22 seconds later thanks to Ryan O'Hara's 1st goal of the season (10:48 in the 1st period assisted by Jack Brackett and Connor Hutchison).

Atlanta opens the 2nd period with a goal at the 1:21 mark by Jackson Pierson (his 8th of the season, assisted by Alex Young).

And then, the Swamp Rabbits swamp the Gladiators with a 5-goal scoring spree.

Goals by Austin Saint at the 4:45 mark of the 2nd period (his 11th, assisted by Kyle Haskins and Dustin Geregach), Jack Brackett at the 10:40 mark of the 2nd period (his 3rd, assisted by Dustin Geregach), Brent Pedersen (his 14th at the 2:20 mark of the 3rd period, assisted by Austin Saint and Kyle Haskins), Ben Poisson (his 3rd at the 3:10 mark of the 3rd period), and Dustin Geregach (his 1st at the 10:42 mark of the 3rd period, assisted by Brent Pederson) erase a 3-1 deficit and transform to a 6-3 advantage.

The Glads would get on the board to cut the lead to 6-4 thanks to Mickey Burns' 1st goal with Atlanta (14:58 in the 3rd period assisted by Randy Hernandez), but the Swamp Rabbits would add the game sealing goal at the 16:10 mark of the 3rd period (Kyle Haskins' 2nd of the season assisted by Brent Pederson and Austin Saint) to close out with a 7-4 win.

Ironically, neither team scores on the power play as both teams have up to a 5 on 3 advantage (Greenville is 0/2 and Atlanta is 0/3). However, Greenville's offensive onslaught (they outshoot Atlanta 41-37) and goaltender Mattias Sholl playing just well enough (33 saves on 37 shots and winning his 1st game with the Swamp Rabbits) are enough for them to sweep the home-and-home series.

Notes: The Gladiators return to the ice on April 2nd at home (Gas South District/7pm EST) against the Orlando Solar Bears in another ECHL South Division clash. The first photo grid and all videos are credited to asnortonccs; the second photo grid is credited to Michael Palmateer Photography and the third photo grid is credited to Angela Jackson.

With tonight's loss, the Solar Bears clinch the final playoff spot in the ECHL Southern Division as the top-4 teams in each division (16 overall) make the Kelly Cup playoffs.

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