(Evansville offense explodes for six goals against Swamp Rabbits in first of six straight road games.)

 

Records:  Evansville: 14-19-3-1; Greenville: 19-17-6-0

Goalies:   GRN – Skapski (L), 2-6-2-0, 20 saves

EVN – Reichard (W), 4-3-0-0, 33 saves

Scoring:

1^st Period: 1. GRN – Donnay 1 (unassisted, 6:13)

2^nd Period:  2. EVN – Rumble 4 (Hobbs, Duco, 4:37); 3. EVN – Duco 5 (Humphries, Strandberg, 11:47); 4. EVN – Rumble 5 (unassisted, 18:03)

3^rd Period:  5. EVN – Rumble 6 (Strandberg, Moon, 5:08); 6. GRN – Saponari 2 (PP, Nejezchleb, Rashid, 7:33); 7. EVN – Hobbs 4 (unassisted, 11:32); 8. EVN – Dunn 6 (Carlsson, Zay, 12:28); 9. GRN – Nejezchleb 7 (Saponari, Fleming, 19:00)

GREENVILLE, SC – The Evansville IceMen started a six game road trip Friday with a 6-3 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, behind the first career hat-trick from defenseman Chris Rumble.

Both goaltenders, Cody Reichard for Evansville and Mackenzie Skapski for Greenville, made two or three huge saves in the opening period. The Swamp Rabbits, however, scored first when Troy Donnay dumped a puck that was going wide of the IceMen net before it ricocheted off of an Evansville stick and into the net 6:13 into the game. Rumble had the best scoring chance for the IceMen, but rang a wrist shot off the post behind Skapski.

Right after jumping out of the penalty box, Rumble joined a 3-on-1 rush and buried a rebound to tie the game early in the second period. The IceMen then took the lead, when Mike Duco ripped a one-timer past the blocker of Skapski from the right circle right after an Evansville power play ended.

Late in the frame, Rumble picked the pocket of a Swamp Rabbits forward at the IceMen blue line and skated in on a long breakaway. Rumble lifted a backhander into the net for his first career two-goal game to give Evansville a 3-1 lead after two periods.

The rookie defenseman from Buffalo, NY struck a third time when a rebound hopped up in the air and bounced off his pads before going in the net. It was Rumble’s first professional hat-trick in his first game as a forward, as the IceMen led 4-1 early in the third period.

Greenville cut the lead to two when Vinny Saponari tapped in a centering pass from the edge of the crease on a power play, but Evansville answered back when Danny Hobbs capitalized on a Swamp Rabbits turnover and fired a shot under the blocker of Skapski to make it 5-2. Vincent Dunn then tipped a Jonathan Carlsson shot into the net 56 seconds later to expand the league, as the IceMen cruised to victory. Richard Nejezchleb scored in the final minute for Greenville, but Reichard stopped 33 shots in the 6-3 win.

The IceMen continue the road trip south to Duluth, GA for a 7:05pm EST start Saturday against the Atlanta Gladiators. The game will be broadcast onwww.evansvilleicemen.com and ECHL TV (away audio), with coverage starting at 5:50pm. Evansville then travels to Independence, MO for a Tuesday night showdown with the Missouri Mavericks, before heading to Wichita Wednesday night.

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UPCOMING HOME GAMES

Sat. 2/6 – Rapid City at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center

Crowns and Capes Night

Tues. 2/9 – Fort Wayne at Evansville (6:15pm) – Ford Center

Fat Tuesday

Fri. 2/12 – Kalamazoo at Evansville (7:15pm) – Ford Center

Old National Bank Youth Backpack Giveaway

Sun. 2/14 – Cincinnati at Evansville (6:15pm) – Ford Center

Heart Night – Valentine’s Day

 

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DOMINO’S 4-GAME HAT PACK

Choose any four IceMen home games and get a FREE limited edition IceMen hat and a large 1-topping Domino’s pizza, starting at only $17 per ticket. Call the IceMen front office at 812-421-GOAL (4625) for details.

Visit us at www.evansvilleicemen.com, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @EvvIceMen for more information about your hometown professional hockey team.