ROAD WARRIORS BEAT DOWN ‘BLADES 

VERSUS    

ESTERO, FL – The Greenville Road Warriors pulled off their second third period comeback win on Friday night to take down the Florida Everblades by a 3-2 score at Germain Arena. The win improved Greenville’s record to 28-16-2 on the season.

The Road Warriors had the look of a determined and focused team in the first period as they controlled play in the Florida end for a majority of the first half of the period. An early interference on the goalie minor by Alex Imbeaul allowed Greenville to register four shots on goal, however none found their way past Bobby Goepfert. The Road Warriors’ hard work finally paid off when Andrew Carroll ripped a wrist shot past Goepfert at 10:37. It was Carroll’s first goal since October 30 and the lone assist went to Mark Voakes. Florida’s second-rated penalty kill had a say in the period before the final horn and left the score knotted at one. Off of a turnover at the line in Florida ice, the Everblades worked a 3-on-1 into the Greenville end. Ross Carlson lifted a wrister past Nic Riopel at 16:55 for his 10th of the season.

Greenville’s offense couldn’t quite produce the same pressure that it did during the first period and fell behind by a goal as a result. Mike McKenzie and Matt Beca teamed up to set up Francis Lemieux in front of the Greenville net with Riopel slightly out of position. Lemieux, the league’s leading scorer, didn’t miss from close range and put Florida in front for the first time on the night. But with the ‘Blades out-shooting the Road Warriors 13-5 in the frame, Riopel made more than a few key saves to keep Greenville in it. He did his best work late in the period when a holding minor to Lee Baldwin and a bench minor for too many men left Greenville shorthanded by two men for 35 seconds. Florida’s offense stalled on the advantage and the Road Warriors remained within one.

With some of the Road Warriors’ top guns still missing from the lineup, it was appropriate that an unlikely source provided the key goal early to tie the game at two. It was just his second goal of the season, but Wes Cunningham couldn’t have timed his drive to the net any better. Jimmy Kilpatrick’s pass was intended for Brandon Wong at the side of the Florida net, but clicked off of a skate directly to Cunningham on the far wing. The Road Warriors’ defender slid it under Goepfert to knot the score with 4:38 gone by. It was a similar play that allowed Brandon Wong to net the game winner with his 15th goal of the season at 16:37. Kilpatrick assisted on that score, as well, along with Connor Shields. Greenville had to survive a kneeing minor to Kilpatrick and an extra skater for the over the final 1:07. The defense and goaltending held the fort, and allowed for the regulation win.

Riopel turned in 22 saves in the win while the Road Warriors were 0-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors will return home from a seven-game road trip on Wednesday, February 9 to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with special games and promotions throughout the evening. Group seating remains available for the game and you can call 864-674-PUCK to book your group outing and save off the box office price, receive preferred seating based on availability, and enjoy other great benefits.