GREENVILLE, SC – A week-long four-game series between the Greenville Road Warriors and South Carolina Stingrays wraps up today at the North Charleston Coliseum. After winning two straight at the BI-LO Center, the Road Warriors are looking to finish off the series strongly today.
RECAPPING THE ACTION
2/19/11 – GRW 4 – SC 3 (OT)
The Road Warriors put on a dramatic show for the largest home crowd of the season (6,388) and picked up their second consecutive win over the Stingrays. Shane Harper got the party started with his 12th goal of the season 3:55 into the game and put the Road Warriors up early. A 5-on-3 power play goal from the Stingrays’ Rob Ricci event the score at one and the game remained that way all the way up to the third period. Greenville surrendered a shorthanded goal to Trent Campbell and fell behind in the game for the first time, but it didn’t stay that way long. Four and a half minutes after Campbell’s goal, Sam Klassen’s third goal of the season tied the game at two for the Road Warriors. Chris Clackson followed at 13:53 to restore Greenville’s one-goal lead, but a regulation win eluded the Road Warriors on this night. Tommy Goebel netted the tying goal with 1:40 left to play after a Road Warriors turnover. In overtime Nic Riopel turned in a 10-bell save with roughly 15 seconds left to play and led to a Greenville breakaway which Connor Shields converted into the game winner with eight ticks of the clock remaining. Riopel ended the game with 23 saves for the win.
WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:
The week of the Palmetto State Rivalry wraps up tonight with game four of four this week between the Road Warriors and Stingrays. South Carolina won round one on Wednesday night by a 3-2 count in North Charleston while rounds two and went to the Road Warriors Friday and Saturday. The win turned around Greenville’s five-game losing streak at the hands of the Stingrays. The Stingrays have the second-most home wins in the ECHL (17) and while the Road Warriors are 3-3-0 in their last six road games. The last time Greenville won in North Charleston was a 4-3 shootout win on December 29.
The South Division is the tightest race in the ECHL right now with only 5 points separating the top three teams. The Road Warriors will try to make some room for themselves atop the division with 8 of their final 18 games against the South. 22 of the Road Warriors’ 32 wins this season have come against South Division foes.
– Road Warriors have given up the third fewest first-period goals (43) in the ECHL.
– The Road Warriors lead the ECHL in first goals with 34. They are 25-8-1 when scoring first and have the 8th highest win percentage when scoring first.
– Eight of the last 12 games the Road Warriors have played in have been decided by one goal (6-2-0).
– Greenville is has a power play goal in four straight road games and is 5-for-23 (21.7%) over its last five on the road (3-2-0).
– The Road Warriors have 8 games remaining against South Division opponents (3 home, 5 away).
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return to home ice to battle the Gwinnett Gladiators on Tuesday, December 22 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. It will be the final Twofer Tuesday of the season! Fans can get two center ice tickets, two hot dogs, two boxes of popcorn, and two sodas for just $30. The Twofer Tuesday offer can be bought at the BI-LO Center Box Office. Groups of 10 or more who plan to attend the game should call the Road Warriors at 864-674-PUCK to book in advance. Groups get discounts off the box office price, preferred seating based on availability, and other great benefits.
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