GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors square off against the Cincinnati Cyclones tonight in game two of this weekend’s three-game series at the BI-LO Center. Greenville is coming off of a 3-2 win in a shootout last night, and can clinch a playoff berth with a win.
RECAPPING THE ACTION:
3/17/11 – GRW 3 – CIN 2 (SO)
A pair of new additions to the Road Warriors line-up had an immediate impact on the offensive end and gave Greenville a pair of leads in the second period. Andrew Rowe, in his first home game with the Road Warriors, lifted a backhand shot into the net at 1:24 of the second period and put the Road Warriors up 1-0. After Cincinnati tied it on a Casey Pierro-Zabotel goal at 5:56, Lee Baldwin hammered home a one-timer off of a feed from Justin Bowers at 15:52 and restored the Road Warriors’ one-goal lead. Baldwin was playing his first game for Greenville since mid-February while Rowe was loaned back to the team after a two-week stay with Adirondack in the American Hockey League. Forty seconds into the third period Dan Eves chipped a shot past Nic Riopel and knotted the score at two. The score remained there through the rest of regulation, and overtime, and resulted in a shootout. It was the first ever at home for the Road Warriors and started with a bang as Justin Bowers, Brandon Wong, and Shane Harper scored in succession to put Greenville ahead three goals to none. Mathieu Aubin scored the lone shootout goal for the Cyclones and after Riopel stopped Cincinnati’s fourth shooter, Brian O’Hanley, the score went final. Riopel earned his 21st win of the season with 25 saves.
WHAT’S ON TAP FOR TONIGHT:
Greenville and Cincinnati renew acquaintances tonight after playing to overtime in each of their first two meetings. Each team has prevailed on its home ice with the Cyclones winning 4-3 on Feb. 25 and the Road Warriors triumphing in a shootout last night, 3-2. Greenville’s win last night snapped Cincinnati’s four game winning streak and was just the Cyclones’ fifth loss against a South Division team this season. No team outside the South has more wins against the division than the Cyclones (13). Greenville’s record against the North, meanwhile, improved to 12-2-1.
By averaging more than a point per game over the first half of the season, Justin Bowers earned a two-month call up to Portland of the AHL and registered 11 points (4G, 7A) in 26 games with the Pirates. Since returning he has been scorching ECHL competition and leading the way for Greenville’s offense. He has nine points (2G, 7A) in six games this month and Greenville is averaging four goals per game since Bowers has rejoined the lineup.
– Greenville is the only team in the ECHL with a top-five offense (3.47/gm, 3rd, and top-five defense (2.77/gm, 2nd).
– Greenville has eight PPG in its last five games and ranks sixth in the league with 57 PPG this season.
– The Road Warriors’ magic number to clinch a playoff spot is 1 point. The magic number to clinch the South Division, and home ice advantage, is 5 points.
– Jimmy Kilpatrick’s current 10-game point streak (5G, 7A) is his longest of the season. His goal on March 6 vs. Elmira was his 150th ECHL point.
– Greenville’s 21 home wins are the most in the conference while the Road Warriors’ home defense is the best in the conference with 79 goals allowed.
Join the Road Warriors tonight for their popular SPINX Friday Family Four-Pack which offers unmatched savings on a night out. The family four-pack is available through the BI-LO Center Box Office and features four gold-level tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips, four pretzels, and four fountain drinks for just $48. On Friday, the Road Warriors won’t just be competing on the ice, but off it as well. Six players will participate in a St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising challenge. There will be a donation location set up on the BI-LO Center concourse and fans can donate money in the name of their favorite six participants. The player who has the most money donated in his name will then have his heads shaved in support of the cause. All money raised for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation will benefit childhood cancer research.
