GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors host the South Carolina Stingrays tonight in their inaugural “Pink in the Rink” game. The Road Warriors are looking for their second win in a row at home and to bounce back from a 2-0 loss the last time these teams met.
RECAPPING THE ACTION:
1/17/11 – GRW 4 – KAL 3
The Road Warriors avenged last Saturday night’s loss with a 4-3 win over Kalamazoo on Monday afternoon. The game featured the earliest start time to a home game this season, but the Road Warriors were not sluggish to start the game. After killing off a 5-on-3 for Kalamazoo that lasted 1:57, Greenville’s Mark Voakes converted a 5-on-3 goal for a 1-0 lead 10:27 into the game. The Wings’ wouldn’t let Greenville take the lead into intermission as Andrew Fournier punched home his 17th goal of the season with 29 seconds left in the period. Greenville got the goal back, and then some, with a three-goal second period. The goals were provided by Paul McIlveen (2:38), Connor Shields (5:38), and Shane Harper (8:13) as the Road Warriors grabbed a 4-1 lead and took it to the third period. Kalamazoo’s offense did its best to tie the game and notched two goals on 18 shots. Both goals came on the power play with Patrick Asselin (0:38) and Justin Taylor (16:02) converting. Nic Riopel’s 16 saves in the period were enough to make the lead stand up and led Greenville to its 25th win of the season.
1/17/11 – S.C. 6 – GWT 5 SO
The Road Warriors found out how feisty Gwinnett can be in the third period just two nights earlier and South Carolina nearly fell victim to a Gladiator comeback, too. The Stingrays took a 5-2 lead into the third period, but that vanished and they had to recover to win in the shootout. South Carolina lead 2-1 after one and 3-2 after two before cashing in goals 2:07 apart early in the third period to grab its biggest lead of the night at 5-2. The Gladiators, though, rambled back with three straight including Tom Zanoski’s game-tying goal with 55 seconds left to play. In the shootout, Todd Ford denied all four shooters he faced while Tommy Goebel and Rob Ricci converted against Chris Carrozzi to win the breakaway competition. Josh Godfrey (1G, 2A), Goebel (2A), Ricci (2A), and David de Kastrozza (2G) all had multi-point nights for the ‘Rays.
WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:
The Palmetto State Rivalry will have its first installment of 2011 played tonight with the Road Warriors and Stingrays facing off at the BI-LO Center. In their most recent meeting, South Carolina struck down the Road Warriors 2-0 on New Year’s Eve in North Charleston. The Road Warriors are 5-3-0 against South Carolina including a 3-1-0 mark at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors have not lost at home to the Stingrays since a 4-2 setback on October 24. Including their 5-1 win over S.C. on Dec. 27, the Road Warriors have out-scored the ‘Rays 14-4. After tonight Greenville has just three home games remaining against South Carolina.
Power plays should be cherished and taken advantage of when the Road Warriors and Stingrays meet. Only six teams have taken fewer minor penalties than the Road Warriors’ 207 while South Carolina has the 10th fewest minors at 216. Surprisingly, Greenville has earned 30 PP chances at home against S.C. (while giving up just 16) and scored on seven (23%). On the season Greenville is at 19.1 percent on the PP against S.C.
Since coming to the Road Warriors from Portland of the AHL, Jacob Lagace has been a playmaking force with five assists in four games. The newcomer has done all of his damage at even strength and is a +5 for his efforts. With the Road Warriors, Lagace already has as many multi-point games (2) in five games as he did in 29 games with the Pirates. He also has more assists (5) than he has shots on goal (4) in his time with Greenville.
Highlighting tonight’s festivities are the special pink-themed jerseys that the Road Warriors are wearing for just tonight’s game. The jerseys will be auctioned off via silent auction during the game with proceeds going to the Mary Kay Foundation. You can also help the cause by just purchasing tickets. Every full-value, face-value ticket sold at walk up will be worth $1 going back to the Mary Kay Foundation. Please call the Road Warriors at 864-674-PUCK for more information about the team’s inaugural “Pink in the Rink” event.
