VERSUS 
WHEELING, WV – The Greenville Road Warriors suffered a 3-2 defeat on Wednesday night in Game Three of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal against the Wheeling Nailers. Greenville now trails the series two games to one with Game Four coming on Friday night in Wheeling.
For the first time in the series, the Road Warriors were unable to score the first goal of the game, and saw their deficit doubled before the opening frame expired. Wheeling took a 1-0 lead on Joey Haddad’s fourth goal of the playoffs 1:06 into the contest. The Road Warriors got caught with three forwards deep in Wheeling ice and that led to a 3-on-2 rush back into Greenville ice after a turnover. Dan Henningson hit Haddad low on the left wing for a one-timer that beat Nic Riopel high to the glove side. Greenville registered its first three shots of the game on a power play shortly after Haddad’s goal, but Peter Delmas was there for the save each time. At the 9:52 mark Alex Grant finished off a coast-to-coast rush for his second goal of the playoffs and a 2-0 Wheeling lead. The Road Warriors kept the pressure on for much of the first period, but despite 15 shots could not feed one past Delmas.
The momentum created by Greenville’s strong play at the end of the first period served the Road Warriors well in the second frame. They peppered the Wheeling net relentlessly in the period and were able to climb back within one of the Nailers on a power play score. Just before the period was halfway over there was a disputed play that led to a conversation between the referee and the goal judge surveying the net behind Delmas. The discussion was about a pontential Greenville goal that was ultimately ruled to have not fully crossed the goal line. The Road Warriors were not discouraged by the result and after a delay of game minor to Grant, they snapped their lengthy power play drought. Wes Cunningham‘s shot from the point was tipped home by Chris Clackson at 9:01 for Clackson’s first career playoff goal. Justin Bowers earned the secondary assist. Riopel faced five shots in the frame and turned aside each one.
Greenville came out of the gates in the third period roaring and tallied the tying score before most of the fans in the arena had returned to their seats. Off of a point shot by Brad Cole, Delmas left a juicy rebound right in front for Brendan Connolly. The feisty Road Warriors forward slammed the puck home and knotted the game at two each. The goal was Connolly’s fourth of the playoffs and came 1:38 into the fame with the secondary assist going to Shane Harper. When Andrew Orpik was whistled for goalie interference just past four minutes into the third, the Road Warriors were hungry for their first lead of the night. Bowers appeared to have given Greenville its first lead of the night, but the net was ruled to have been knocked off the pegs before the puck crossed the goal line. Play evened out from there with the teams trading chances, but Riopel and Delmas turning away all comers. Just past the halfway mark of the period, Wheeling was able to force a turnover as Greenville was working the breakout. Brandon DeFazio took a pass low on the left wing from Tyler Murovich, drove along the goal line to the front of the net, and lifted a backhander past Riopel at 10:47. That stood as the game winner as Greenville couldn’t find the tying score in the final minutes with Riopel pulled for the extra attacker.
Riopel ended the night with 21 saves and sustained the loss. Greenville was 1-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
The Road Warriors will be back in action on Friday, April 22 for Game Four at WesBanco Arena at 7:35 p.m. Road Warriors fans can head to Bailey’s Sports Grille for another Road Warriors Watch Party. Bailey’s, 2409 Laurens Road in Greenville is the official watch party location for all Road Warriors away games. So grab a group of friends and get there for the Road Warriors up on the big screens courtesy of Bailey’s and America One. The Road Warriors will return home for Game Six, if necessary, on Tuesday, April 26 at 7:35 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. All students can get into the game for $6 by purchasing their ticket the day of the game at the BI-LO Center Box Office. There are also group discount tickets available for groups of five or more. Call 864-674-PUCK to speak to a Road Warriors representative.
