GREENVILLE, SC –The largest crowd of the season, so far, at the BI-LO Center witnessed a thrilling 1-0 overtime win by the Road Warriors over the Gwinnett Gladiators on Friday night. With 4,589 in attendance the Road Warriors improved their record to 19-6-2 on the season.
Looking to shake off their worst home loss of the season (a 5-1 defeat against Florida on Wednesday) the Road Warriors had a couple of power play opportunities to grab the lead in the first period. After going 6-for-10 on the power play in their last two games against Gwinnett, the Road Warriors struggled to find that same groove and couldn’t cash in on the man advantage in the first. Greenville’s penalty kill was up to the task, as well, and had to respond early with Trevor Glass taking a hooking minor at the 2:53 mark. Dov Grumet-Morris stopped eight shots in the first and Billy Sauer matched him with six saves.
Greenville stole away the offensive momentum in the second and out-shot the Gladiators by an 8-to-5 margin but Sauer was there at every turn to stop the attack. The Road Warriors out-chanced the Gladiators 2-to-1 on the power play in the second, but despite several quality chances could not solve Sauer. Grumet-Morris turned in five saves in the frame to keep the game scoreless, and the anticipation for the first goal grew with every passing minute.
The third went by and left everyone still waiting for the chance to toss their teddy bears. It wasn’t without some glorious chances for Greenville, however. Near the midway point of the period Brendan Connolly raced in on a breakaway after hopping off of the bench. There was a dropped stick in the slot, though, that Connolly could not avoid and it ruined the chance. Later, at the 5:57 point, Marc-Olivier Vallerand was set up on the right wing for a wide-open one-timer. Sauer, however, made a miraculous glove save to rob the rookie winger. Gwinnett tested Grumet-Morris six times in the final frame and he was there for the save each time.
With the score still tied at zero in overtime the anticipation was palpable. Mark Voakes brought the crowd to its feet when he took off on a breakaway near the midway point of the extra session. He was hauled down from behind and awarded a penalty shot. It was his second of the season, and after missing on the first back in October, he did not make the mistake again. A deke to the forehand opened up space between Sauer’s legs and Voakes hit the back of the net at the 2:47 mark of overtime. The goal brought 1,142 teddy bears raining down from the seats at the BI-LO Center.
Grumet-Morris made 20 saves for his third shutout of the season. Greenville was 0-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors are back on home ice to take on the South Carolina Stingrays on Monday, December 27 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors will be hosting the Upstate‘s biggest Christmas gift exchange at the game. You can bring unwanted gifts to the game and trade them in for a different gift! Any unclaimed gifts will be donated to Goodwill. Great group seats are available for your group of 10 or more. Call 864-674-PUCK to talk to a Road Warriors group sales representative.
