ROAD WARRIORS STORM PAST GLADIATORS 

VERSUS       

DULUTH, GA – The Greenville Road Warriors used a lethal power play attack on Sunday evening to earn a 5-1 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The win improved the Road Warriors’ record to 16-5-1 on the season.

One night after having his 12-game point streak snapped Brendan Connolly went back to work quickly and netted a first period goal against the Gladiators. The goal would not have been possible without some stellar goaltending by Dov Grumet-Morris. At the tail end of the Gladiators’ first power play Aaron Bendickson and Pat Galivan worked a little give-and-go to allow Andy Brandt to come wide open off of the right-wing post. Galivan sent a quick pass that way, but Brandt’s one-timer was padded away by Grumet-Morris. Chris Chappell gathered the rebound and set it into open ice at center. As Connolly exited the box he took off behind the Gwinnett defense and wristed a puck past Chris Carrozzi low to the blocker side. The goal was scored at 9:38 and tied Connolly for the league lead in goals at 13.

As it did on Thursday, in the first meeting of the week between the Road Warriors and Gladiators, the second period went to Greenville and the visitors took a three-goal lead into the second intermission. The big turning point was a five-minute major that was given to Danick Paquette for boarding Greenville’s Wes Cunningham. Paquette was also given a game misconduct which left Gwinnett with just 14 skaters at its disposal. Greenville took advantage of the power play quickly and Mark Voakes notched his ninth of the season just 12 seconds into the five minute power play. Jimmy Kilpatrick and Paul McIlveen assisted on the goal at 5:59. With Paquette’s penalty still on the clock Dave Phillips took a high-sticking minor that gave Greenville a 5-on-3 power play for 1:45. The Road Warriors missed out on the 5-on-3, but Blake Parlett scored with 14 seconds remaining on Phillips’ penalty to up Greenville’s lead to 3-0. Brandon Wong closed out the Road Warriors’ scoring in the period with a power play goal of his own at 13:17. Before the period expired Tim Miller slipped a power play goal past Grumet-Morris at the 16:26 mark.

There was not much drama to the third period, but as far as the Road Warriors were concerned there was nothing wrong with that. Mark Voakes scored an even strength goal to pad Greenville’s lead back to four and a couple of late penalty kills preserved that lead. Voakes’ second goal of the game came at 13:21 of the third. Kilpatrick left a drop pass for Voakes between the circles and he wristed a shot past Carrozzi on the blocker side. T.J. Reynolds and Sam Klassen each took interference minors inside the final five minutes of the game, but the Road Warriors’ penalty kill held the fort.

Grumet-Morris picked up his third win of the week with 35 saves. The Road Warriors were 3-for-4 on the power play and 6-for-7 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors are back on home ice to take on the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. It is the Road Warriors’ first Twofer Tuesday of the season which features two center ice tickets, two hot dogs, two sodas, and two boxes of popcorn for just $30! There is also group seating available and your group of 10 or more can save on the box office price, receive preferred seating based on availability and enjoy other benefits by booking in advance. Call the Road Warriors at 864-674-PUCK to speak to a Road Warriors group sales representative.