BLADES SLICE UP ROAD WARRIORS 

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BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

ESTERO, FL – The Greenville Road Warriors saw their four-game winning streak snapped by Florida on Saturday night at Germain Arena as the Everblades came away with a 5-0 win. The loss dropped Greenville to 8-6-0 on the season.

Click here for tonight’s box score.

The Road Warriors were given five power play opportunities in the first period, including 55 seconds of a 5-on-3, but were unable to cash in. Florida’s Scott Pitt picked up the first score when he collected a rebound and used a wraparound to beat Road Warriors’ goalie Jason Missiaen. Greenville posted 11 shots in the opening period, but Florida goalie Pat Nagle stopped every shot he faced. Jason Wilson had the best chance with a breakaway in the first minute of the period, but Nagle lunged to his right to make the pad save.

In the second, Florida scored a pair of goals 35 seconds apart to stretch the 1-0 lead to 3-0. Luc Tardif sent a wrist shot high over Missiaen’s glove at the 4:47 mark and was followed by Leigh Salters who finished off a 2-on-1 with Trevor Bruess. Missiaen was faced with 11 shots in the period and turned away nine of them. The Road Warriors tested Nagle with 10, but again were kept off of the scoreboard.

Greenville was charged with trying to pull off its biggest comeback of the season in the third period, but it never materialized. The Everblades limited Greenville to eight shots on goal in the period while scoring two of their own to salt away the victory. Bruess slipped in behind the defense on a breakaway and bested Missiaen with a wrist shot from the left wing 5:35 into the period. David Rutherford followed that with Florida’s lone power play goal at 11:24 to finish the scoring.

Missiaen sustained the loss while making 28 saves on the evening. Greenville was 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return home to face the Gwinnett Gladiators on Thursday, December 8 at 7:35 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. Come out for the Road Warriors’ Throwback Thursday which features $2 draft beers, fountain drinks, pretzels and hot dogs, and $6 tickets for college students with a valid ID. Throwback Thursdays are sponsored by WSSL 100.5, The Greenville News, and New Rock 93.3. Don’t forget about great group packages that get you discounts off of the box office price and preferred seating based on availability. Fans can call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to speak to a Road Warriors ticket representative and book their group outing.