GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors begin a five-game road trip today with a visit to North Charleston to take on the South Carolina Stingrays. It is the fifth meeting of the season in the Palmetto State Rivalry and each team has beaten the other twice this season.RECAPPING THE ACTION:
12/2/10 – GRW 7 – GWT 1
In a game with first place in the South Division, and the ECHL, up for grabs only one team showed up much to the delight of the BI-LO Center faithful. The Road Warriors matched their best offensive output of the season and received 21 saves from Dov Grumet-Morris in the win over Gwinnett. Julien Brouillette netted a power play goal in the first period to give Greenville a 1-0 lead before the game was blown wide open in the second. The Road Warriors sent four goals past Chris Carrozi in the middle frame to take control of the game. Marc-Olivier Vallerand and Blake Parlett earned power play goals while Mark Voakes and Brandon Wong converted at even strength. Sam Roberts ended Grumet-Morris’ bid for a shutout at 4:31 of the third, but Greenville didn’t let Gwinnett back into the game. Vallerand scored a shorthanded breakaway and Brendan Connolly notched his team-leading 12th goal of the season to round out Greenville’s scoring. Greenville won the special teams battle in a big way with a 3-for-6 effort on the power play as well as a 3-for-4 total, and a shorthanded goal, on the penalty kill.
12/3/10 – S.C. 4 – GWT 2
South Carolina’s visit to North Georgia didn’t start off on the right foot, but the Stingrays righted their ship and took two points home with them to North Charleston. The Gladiators grabbed a 1-0 lead on a power play goal by Matt Krug just a little more than midway through the first. Twenty four seconds before the period expired the Stingrays tied the game with a goal from Justin Milo and never looked back. Josh Godfrey gave the visitors a 2-1 lead in the second frame and Matt Scherer followed with a pair of goals in the third period. Gwinnett pulled within one thanks to a Danick Paquette power play goal in the third, but that was as close as the Gladiators would get. Rookie goalie Jared DeMichiel earned the win in goal for the Stingrays with 28 saves.
WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:
The Palmetto State Rivalry is deadlocked at two games apiece following South Carolina’s win in the most recent installment of the rivalry. That loss was part of the Road Warriors’ three-game losing streak but since snapping it they have won four in a row away from the BI-LO Center. After dropping eight of their first 11 games the Stingrays have fought to pick up wins in four of their last seven. On the season the Road Warriors have a winning margin of three goals vs. S.C. while the Stingrays’ winning margin against Greenville is two.
When the Greenville Road Warriors win this season they tend to do so in impressive fashion. In tight games, however, they have not enjoyed as much success. In games that are decided by at least three goals Greenville has a record of 9-1-0 but in games that are won by two goals or less its record dips to 5-4-1. The Road Warriors had their widest margin of victory in Thursday’s 7-1 win over the Gladiators. Average margin of victory for the Road Warriors this season is 2.86 while average margin of defeat is 2.17.
After snapping a three-game road losing streak to begin the season the Road Warriors have rattled off four consecutive wins away from the BI-LO Center and five wins in a row overall. They are averaging 5.4 goals per game over the streak while giving up just 2.2 goals against. The Road Warriors are tied with Idaho for the longest current winning streak in the league.
Please click here for Game Notes page one.
Please click here for Game Notes page two.
Please click here for Road Warriors player info.
Please click here for Stingrays player info.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return to home ice to take on the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors are offering their Twofer Tuesday deal for the first time this season. Fans can pick up two center ice tickets, two hot dogs, two sodas, and two boxes of popcorn for just $30! There is also group seating available. Contact the Road Warriors to find out how your group of 10 or more can enjoy saving on the box office price, receive preferred seating based on availability, and much more. Call 864-674-PUCK to speak with a Road Warriors group sales representative.
