VERSUS 
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors scored five times despite being limited to 22 shots and won 5-3 over the Florida Everblades on Saturday afternoon at the BI-LO Center. The win was Greenville’s third straight and improved it’s record to 3-3-0.
Click here for today’s box score.
In the first period it was the visiting Everblades that fired the opening salvo and left the Road Warriors playing catch up. Brendan Connolly was whistled for a double minor for roughing, and a 10-minute misconduct after a dust up with Mike McKenzie and Greenville was left shorthanded. David Rutherford capitalized for Florida with a shot that beat Nic Riopel from the right wing. After Greenville couldn’t cash in on its first power play of the night, Scott Pitt caused a turnover in the Greenville end that led to Philip-Michael Devos’ goal at 17:10 that put the Everblades up a pair heading into the second period.
Rookie forward Jeremy Gouchie put on a show in the second period as he scored two goals and set up another as Greenville battled back to tie the game. Gouchie’s first two professional goals were scored 2:31 apart early in the second and allowed Greenville to wipe out Florida’s 2-0 advantage. Brett Robinson followed up his two-goal game from Friday night by assisting on each of Gouchie’s scores. Florida came back to take a 3-2 lead thanks to a power play goal by Scott Pitt at 9:16. That lead didn’t last long, though, because Cullen Eddy’s second goal of the season pulled the Road Warriors even at 12:58. Gouchie and Wes Cunningham set up the score. Riopel made a couple of spectacular saves in the period among the nine shots he faced to ensure the Road Warriors went into the third period tied at three.
Greenville made quick work of breaking the tie in the third period thanks to Marc-Olivier Vallerand notching his first goal of the season. Connolly hit Vallerand with a pass from the right wing and the quick snap shot beat Scott Darling 3:55 into the period. Connolly provided a measure of insurance with a power play goal at 9:28 with Sam Klassen and Eddy assisting on the score. The goal was Connolly’s second power play score of the season and matched his total from all of 2010-11. Florida pulled Darling for the extra attacker with just over two minutes left to play, but could not beat Riopel to dent the Road Warriors’ two-goal lead.
Riopel won his third straight game by making 23 saves on the day. Greenville went 1-for-4 on the power play and 1-for-3 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors take on the Toledo Walleye at the BI-LO Center on Thursday , November 3 at 7:35 p.m. Come out and join the Road Warriors for their first Throwback Thursday of the season. Select draught beers, fountain drinks, pretzels, and hot dogs will be on sale for just $2 and college students get in for $6 with a student ID! 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.
Leave a Reply