GREENVILLE AND GWINNETT TANGO AGAIN 

GREENVILLE, SC –After a rare Saturday off the Greenville Road Warriors are back in action today in Duluth against the Gwinnett Gladiators. The Road Warriors are looking for their fourth consecutive win over the Gladiators.

RECAPPING THE ACTION:

12/17/10 – GRW 1 – GWT 0
The Road Warriors provided their fans with the most dramatic finish of the season after playing over 60 minutes of scoreless hockey on Teddy Bear Toss Night. Greenville had a pair of power play chances in the first period, but those went by the wayside, as did the lone man-advantage opportunity for Gwinnett. After only managing six shots in the first, the Road Warriors ratcheted up the pressure in the second and sailed eight shots Billy Sauer’s way. Gwinnett’s netminder turned aside all challenges, and thanks to five saves from Dov Grumet-Morris the Road Warriors stayed even through the second. Overtime was nearly made unnecessary as Marc-Olivier Vallerand had a look at an open net with 5:57 remaining in the game. Sauer, though, turned in a superlative save on Vallerand’s one-timer and kept the game scoreless. Nearly halfway through the sudden death session Mark Voakes took off on a breakaway, but was hauled down from behind and awarded a penalty shot. The second-year pro used a deke to open up space between Sauer’s pads and slipped a shot five-hole for the game winner and his 13th goal of the season. Grumet-Morris picked up his third shutout of the season with 20 saves.

12/18/10 – GWT 2 – S.C. 3
Back on home ice the Gladiators were looking for their first win since Nov. 27, but quickly fell behind the visiting Stingrays. After a scoreless first period South Carolina rattled off two second-period scores and put Gwinnett in the hole. Rob Ricci and Tommy Goebel tallied 1:54 apart before Trent Campbell added to the Stingrays’ lead at 6:42 of the third period. The Gladiators staged a furious comeback attempt and launched 19 shots on goal during the third period. Andy Brandt (10:14) and Tim Miller (17:28) were able to beat South Carolina’s Jared DeMichiel and pull the Gladiators within one. Coach Jeff Pyle pulled goalie Chris Carrozzi with 1:05 left in regulation but the comeback effort ultimately fell short and the Gladiators’ losing streak continued. Carrozzi turned in 23 saves while sustaining his sixth loss of the season.

WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:

Greenville is looking to continue its strong play away from the BI-LO Center. With victories in their final two games of a three-game set in Florida, Greenville has an opportunity to build up its second road winning streak this season. Before a 3-2 shootout loss in Florida on December 8, the Road Warriors had won six consecutive games on the road. With still earning a standings point for the shootout loss, Greenville is 8-0-1 in its last nine on the road after an 0-3-0 start. The Road Warriors have out-scored opponents 41-31 away from the BI-LO Center and have the league’s best road power play at 27.8 percent.

In their last three wins over the Gladiators, the Road Warriors have been stifling on defense. Following Friday’s shutout Greenville has surrendered just two goals in their last three games against Gwinnett. In The Arena at Gwinnett Center, though, that task could prove to be much more difficult. The Gladiators have scored 38 goals in their 11 home games this season (3.45/game) and are averaging four goals per game against the Road Warriors in that building. Greenville did manage, however, to hold the Gladiators to one goal in their 5-1 win on Dec. 5.

With the Road Warriors nine games away from hitting the mid-point of the 2010-11 schedule, they will arrive at their longest break of the season following tonight’s game. Players, coaches, and staff will have seven days to travel home for the Christmas holiday and the Road Warriors won’t be back in action until they host the South Carolina Stingrays on Dec. 27. The Gwinnett Gladiators are a stark contrast and will play three games over the span that Greenville is off, including a pair of contests in Estero against the Everblades.

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.