GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors fell to the Wheeling Nailers 6-1 on Friday night in the opener of their 2011-12 season.
The Road Warriors got off to a quick start in the first period and grabbed a 1-0 lead before the game was a minute old. A hooking minor against Wheeling’s Chris Barton 25 seconds into the game put Greenville on the power play. After a faceoff win, and a quick pass from Wes Cunningham, Jeff Prough wristed a shot past Patrick Killeen at 47 seconds of the first for the advantage. Wheeling’s Paul Crowder netted the equalizer at 5:16 as the puck bounced off of him in front of the net and past a surprised Jerry Kuhn. The Road Warriors’ rookie netminder surrendered a goal at 9:11 to Chris Minella and Wheeling grabbed a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Matt Lombardi padded the lead to 3-1 at 7:51 of the second. Lombardi took a feed on a 2-on-1 with Zach Torquato and potted his first of the season as he beat Kuhn low to the glove side. Mikael Bedard added to the Nailers’ advantage with his first of the night at 16:19.
Heading into the third, trailing by three, the Road Warriors looked for a spark to start the third, but surrendered Bedard’s second of the night 4:32 in and saw the deficit swell to four at 5-1. Tempers began to flare midway through the frame as Brendan Connolly earned a slashing minor and T.J. Reynolds was whistled for roughing on the Greenville side, and Patrick Killeen and Tim Crowder earned roughing minors. After all the extra-curriculars, Wheeling added one last tally, a shorthanded score from Nick Plastino at 18:04.
Kuhn turned in 30 saves for the Road Warriors while Greenville was 1-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors take on the Reading Royals at the BI-LO Center on October 15 at 7:05 p.m. Be one of the first 2,500 fans through the door to receive a complimentary magnetic schedule courtesy of Mountain Dew. Great group seats are still available for the game. Groups of 10 or more get preferred seating and discounts off of the box office price. Fans can call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to speak to a Road Warriors ticket representative and book their group outing.
