Another epic edition of the I85 rivalry: the Greenville Swamp Rabbits steal a 3-2 win and split the home and home series against the Atlanta Gladiators

Preview: Greenville Swamp Rabbits (9-7-1-1/20 points/9th place in the Eastern Conference) vs

Atlanta Gladiators (7-10-3-1/18 points/13th place in the Eastern Conference)

As the ECHL gets into the first 1/3 of the season, play is heating up on the ice.

And in the case of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits visiting the Atlanta Gladiators in today's action at the Gas South District (December 8, 2024 at 3pm EST), it's another edition of the I85 rivals going at it as they look to improve in the standings.

Coming in averaging 2.5 goals per game, the Swamp Rabbits' Parker Berge (4 goals/11 assists/15 points) and Bryce Brodzinski (8 goals/7 assists/15 points) look to put pressure on the Glads' Drew DeRidder (2-5-3-0 with a 3.07 goals allowed average and .901 save percentage), as Atlanta is coming off a 1-0 win in their previous game of the home and home series (against Greenville). Team leaders (including team captain) Eric Neiley (6 goals/7 assists/13 points), Derek Topatigh (2 goals/10 assists/12 points), and Cody Sylvester (5 goals/7 assists/12 points) look to lead Atlanta to another win against Greenville goaltender Jacob Ingham (2-1-0-1 with a 2.25 goals allowed average and .937 save percentage).

On Sing With Santa Day, the Glads look to give their fans a win at home and focus on moving up in the Eastern Conference standings as they are at the 1/3 mark of the season.

Game highlights: the Swamp Rabbits split the home and home with the Gladiators

The Gladiators waste little time in lighting up the lamp and taking a 1-0 lead (1:30 in the 1st period). Joey Cipollone's 7th goal of the season (assisted by Eric Neiley and Cody Sylvester) gets things going for Atlanta.

Both teams' defenses and goaltending would get in gear until the midpoint of the 2nd period. The Swamp Rabbits strike back to tie the game at 1, as Bobby Russell's 2nd goal of the season (assisted by Tyson Fawcett at the 9:01 mark of the 2nd period) evens the score. At the 12:05 mark of the 3rd period, Greenville would take a 2-1 lead thanks to an unassisted goal on the power play by Quinn Olson (his 1st of the season in his 4th game of ECHL play with the team).

However, the Gladiators would get back in the game quickly.

Derek Topatigh would answer with an unassisted goal of his own (12:36 in the 3rd period) to tie the game.

The Swamp Rabbits' Jake Flynn would pick an opportune time to score his first goal of the season (in his 2nd game with the team) at the 16:56 mark (assisted by John Parker-Jones and Arvid Caderoth). Despite a late effort by Atlanta, Greenville holds on for a 3-2 win and split of the series.

Despite outshooting Greenville (30-24), the visiting Swamp Rabbits have the edge in the power play (1 for 2 compared to 0 for 4 for Atlanta) along with goaltender Jacob Ingham (28 saves on 30 shots) having a slightly better day in the net compared to the Glads' Drew DeRidder (21 saves on 24 shots).

The Gladiators look to get back in the win column as their next game is at home against the South Carolina Stingrays (December 11, 2024 at 7pm EST at the Gas South District).

Notes: All video and photos are recorded by CCS LLC; you may catch our full season and previous hockey coverage by clicking HERE.