CROWES BEAT GIBSONS 

     VERSUS     

The Greenville Road Warriors struck first but ultimately fell to the Gwinnett Gladiators by a score of 6-1 on Sunday. The loss dropped Greenville’s record to 4-3-1 on the season.

The Road Warriors looked energized early in the first period and took the play to the Gladiators as they registered the first five shots on goal. As a result of the early pressure the Road Warriors earned a power play when Ryan Garbutt hit Julien Brouillette with a high stick. Gwinnett killed of a majority of the power play but a late rush by Brendan Connolly gave the Road Warriors some needed life. Connolly hit Blake Parlett with a drop pass at Gwinnett’s line. With traffic in front of Gwinnett goalie Billy Sauer, Parlett took a wrist shot that was tipped by Connor Shields. The redirect went right to Shane Harper who was lurking off of the right post. Harper cashed in on the chance and scored his first pro goal at the 5:12 mark. Dov Grumet-Morris, who was making his first start of the season, made seven saves to keep Greenville in front through the first period.

As was the case in each of the previous two games this weekend, the second period belonged to the home team. Gwinnett potted an even-strength and a power play goal to grab a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes of play. Matt Case made a nice play to elude two Greenville defenders as he carried the puck down the left wing. A quick centering pass was one-timed in by Derek Nesbitt to tie the game at 4:39 of the second. Greenville took two penalties in quick succession shortly after Nesbitt’s goal and the Gladiators capitalized. Mike Forney jabbed in a puck from about five feet out at 7:48 on Gwinnett’s second power play of the night. Greenville didn’t have a power play chance in the second, but Justin Bowers nearly tied it late in the frame. Breaking in on a two-on-one with Harper, Bowers rifled a shot off of the cross bar and Gwinnett’s lead remained in tact.

At about the 16-minute mark of the third period it seemed as though momentum was going Greenville’s way when Dannick Paquette went of for roughing. Greenville had an opportunity to tie it on the power play, but it was a shorthanded goal by Ryan Garbutt that proved to be the turning point. After stealing the puck from the point, Garbutt shot a low wrister against the grain that slipped by Grumet-Morris. Greenville then found itself in penalty trouble when Parlett and Brendan Connolly were sent to the box for tripping and unsportsmanlike conduct, respectively, at 5:30. Sam Klassen then took a slashing minor 12 seconds later. The Gladiators pumped home 5-on-3 power play goals by Garbutt and Sam Roberts at 6:10 and 7:06 to break the game open. Dan Kissell added a score on a 2-on-1 at 17:24 to set the final.

Grumet-Morris made 27 saves in his first start of the season. The Road Warriors were 1-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-6 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors are back on home ice to take on the Florida Everblades on Thursday, November 11 at 7:05 p.m. ET. The Road Warriors will be honoring our military heroes by offering a free ticket to the game to active military members and military veterans who present ID at the BI-LO Center Box Office. It is also a Thirsty Thursday with select fountain drinks and draught beers on sale for just $1. For more information call 864-674-PUCK or visit www.greenvilleroadwarriors.com