GREENVILLE, SC –Tonight the Road Warriors open a five-game homestand, their second longest of the season, with a 7:05 p.m. contest at the BI-LO Center against the Florida Everblades.
RECAPPING THE ACTION:
1/8/11 – GRW 2 – GWT 3
In the finale of the three-in-three series against Gwinnett, the Road Warriors fell behind early and were forced to play from behind for the third game in a row. Justin Milo cashed in a couple of first-period goals to lift Gwinnett to a 2-0 advantage. Tim Miller was there about halfway through the second and established a 3-0 lead with his fourth goal of the series with the Road Warriors, and it proved to be the winning score. Marc-Olivier Vallerand chipped in his team-leading 15th goal to slice the lead to two 3:09 after Miller’s goal. The score injected some life into the Road Warriors and Sam Klassen’s first pro goal 24 seconds into the third period even more energy to the team. As in the previous two nights, the Road Warriors out-shot and out-chanced the Gladiators in the third period, but the tying goal would not come. That despite a Gladiators penalty with nine seconds remaining and Dov Grumet-Morris pulled for the extra attacker.
1/11/11 – FLA 1 – GWT 2
Florida was clinging to a 1-0 lead in the third period on Tuesday night in Gwinnett, looking to pick up an important win to start its four-game road trip. Alex Imbeault propelled Florida to the lead with his team-leading 20th goal of the season at 12:20 of the first period. The Everblades carried the play in the second period and out-shot the Gladiators by a 16-11 mark, but could not feed one past rookie Chris Carrozzi. That set the stage for Gwinnett’s dramatic comeback. At the 4:19 mark Drew Paris’ second of the season knotted the game for Gwinnett then Andy Brandt potted the game winner 6:08 left to play. The Gladiators dominated the final frame and sent 22 shots Jaroslav Janus‘ way against only seven shots by the Everblades.
WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:
Tonight is the final of seven home games on the season for the Road Warriors against Florida. Greenville has dominated the series at the BI-LO Center with a 4-1-1 record against the ‘Blades in Greenville. Florida did win its last trip to the BI-LO Center by a 5-1 score, and that was the worst home loss sustained by the Road Warriors this season. Before that Greenville had swept a three-game set from Nov. 11-13 by a combined score of 14-7. That included the first shutout in Road Warriors’ history with Nic Riopel turning in 32 saves in a 3-0 win on Nov. 13. Five games at Germain Arena remain between the Road Warriors and Everblades.
With call-ups and injuries forcing some of the Road Warriors’ top offensive players out of the lineup, goal production has been inconsistent. In going 5-5-0 in their last 10 games the Road Warriors are averaging 4.8 goals per game in the wins. The only game they won which they didn’t score at least 4 goals was the 1-0 win on Dec. 17. In the five losses, however, the production has dipped to 1.4 goals per game.
With four assists in his last three games, rookie winger Brandon Wong looks like he is warming up to the scoring pace he was setting at the beginning of the season. After being loaned to the Road Warriors by the Connecticut Whale in mid-November Wong registered nine points (2G, 7A) in his first nine games with Greenville. He hit a bit of a lull in November with eight points in 12 games, but improved on his goal scoring and notched six in the month. A nine-game drought without an assist Wong has four in four games this month. He has gone six games without a goal, though. As a senior at Quinnipiac last season Wong led NCAA hockey with 14 power play goals.
There will also be plenty off excitement off the ice tonight with The Piedmont Boys playing a free concert beginning at 6:00 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. Once you’re inside head over to the area near the doors to the smoking space behind Section 106 to catch The Piedmont Boys’ set. They’ll be playing up to the drop of the puck at 7:05. While you’re there stop by the concessions are to enjoy another Dollar Drink Thursday with the Road Warriors. For tonight select draught beers and fountain drinks will be on sale for just $1!
