LOVING THE SUNSHINE 

ESTERO, FL – Tonight the Greenville Road Warriors finish their three-game series against the Florida Everblades, as well as their season-long seven-game road trip. With last night’s win, a victory tonight would earn Greenville a win in the series as well as a winning record for the trip.

RECAPPING THE ACTION:

2/4/11 – GRW 3 – FLA 2

The Road Warriors bounced back in fine form from their setback on Wednesday night with a third period comeback win in the middle game of the series. Greenville did grab the early lead on Andrew Carroll’s seventh goal of the season 10:37 into the game. Despite earning all three power play chances in the first, the Road Warriors couldn’t extend their lead and actually surrendered the tying goal while Florida was shorthanded. After Ross Carlson netted the Everblades’ 10th SHG of the season, Francis Lemieux put the ‘Blades ahead 3:41 into the second by finishing off a net-front scramble. The third, though, belonged to the Road Warriors thanks to a pair of timely goals and sound penalty killing late. Wes Cunningham’s second goal of the season tied the game at two 4:38 into the third, and Brandon Wong potted the eventual game winner at 16:37. Jimmy Kilpatrick assisted on both to give him three points (1G, 2A) in two games this week. Over the final 1:07 Florida had a 6-on-4 skater advantage with Bobby Goepfert pulled for the extra attacker and Kilpatrick serving a kneeing minor. Nic Riopel and the Road Warriors defense was there, though, to turn away the ‘Blades’ offense and maintain the lead.

WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT

Tonight is the third of the Road Warriors’ second three-game series at Germain Arena and is the final game of their season-long seven game road trip. Greenville is 3-3-0 on the trip after last night’s win. In the season series between Greenville and Florida the Road Warriors hold a sound advantage with an 8-2-2 record, including 3-1-1 here at Germain Arena. In their last series here, the Road Warriors limited Florida to five goals in three games and earned five of six points (2-0-1). After tonight, just two games remain in the season series between the clubs.

For much of the first half of the season the Road Warriors found themselves in the upper echelon of the ECHL when it came to the power play. Lately, though, has been a different story. Over their last seven games (3-4-0), the Road Warriors are 2-for-28 on the man advantage. Chris Chappell’s PPG Wednesday night broke an 0-for-20 stretch on the PP dating back to Jan. 17 vs. Kalamazoo.

– Chris Chappell has four goals in his last seven games after going 17 games without to begin the season.

– Greenville is 5-for-26 on the PP at Germain Arena this season.

– Last night was Greenville’s second third-period comeback win on the season.

– Tonight is the seventh game of the Road Warriors’ longest road trip of the season. They play seven straight away from the BI-LO Center from 1/22 to 2/5/11. Over that span they will travel 3,310 miles. They are 3-3-0 on the trip so far.

– Nic Riopel is 5-4-1 on the season when playing in front of an emergency backup goalie.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors will return home from a seven-game road trip on Wednesday, February 9 to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. The Road Warriors will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with special games and promotions throughout the evening. Group seating remains available for the game and you can call 864-674-PUCK to book your group outing and save off the box office price, receive preferred seating based on availability, and enjoy other great benefits.