BY: Ray Schmitt
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors won two of three games last week against South Division opponents, but had their four-game winning streak halted by their first shutout defeat of the season on Saturday in Florida. This week, the Road Warriors enjoy a Thanksgiving break before traveling to North Charleston to continue their seven-game road trip.
Record: 8-6-0, 16 pts., 3rd place South Division
Leaders:
Goals – Jeff Prough: 10
Assists – Justin Bowers: 12
Points – Jeff Prough: 18
+/- – Jeff Prough: +5
PIMs – Brendan Connolly: 36
PPG – Jeff Prough: 5
SHG – Brendan Connolly: 1
Wins – Nic Riopel: 8
GAA – Nic Riopel: 2.66
SVP – Nic Riopel: .918
Previewing the Upcoming Week:
11/27 at South Carolina – 4:00 p.m., Home vs. S.C. 3-0-0, Away vs. S.C. 0-0-0
The Road Warriors have become quite familiar with the Stingrays over the last few weeks as, including Sunday, four of their last six games have been played between the Palmetto State rivals. Greenville has grabbed the upper hand in the season series by winning each of the first three match ups at the BI-LO Center earlier this month. For this game, though, the scene shifts to the Lowcountry for the first time this season as the teams meet at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Stingrays have the best home winning percentage of any team in the Eastern Conference at .750 and are holding opponents to just 1.75 goals per game at home. Greenville has kept South Carolina to 1.33 goals per game in three prior meetings this season, though, and is averaging 3.33 goals per game against the Stingrays. The Road Warriors are 4-5-0 all-time at the North Charleston Coliseum and have won their last two trips there.
Road Warriors Broadcast Information
All Greenville Road Warriors games are broadcast live online courtesy of America One. You can listen to every game for free by clicking on the “Listen Live” link located on the Road Warriors’ home page – www.greenvilleroadwarriors.com. You can also visit www.americaone.com to find the Road Warriors internet TV broadcasts. The Road Warriors Pre-Game Show kicks off every broadcast 15 minutes prior to faceoff.
Recapping Last Week:
11/15 vs. South Carolina: W 3-1
A shorthanded goal on a penalty shot by Brendan Connolly sparked the Road Warriors offense, and 31 saves by Nic Riopel anchored the defense in Greenville’s third consecutive win over South Carolina. Connolly’s goal was the Road Warriors first shorthanded and first penalty shot goal of the season and staked Greenville to a 1-0 lead. Jeff Prough (2A) and Justin Bowers (1G, 1A) had multi-point nights for the Road Warriors and Jason Wilson scored his first professional goal late in the second period. It turned out to be the game winner, as well, because South Carolina’s Sean Dolan broke up Riopel’s shutout bid with 2:46 left to play.
11/18 at Florida: W 5-2
Last Friday was Greenville’s first road game in nearly a month, but the Road Warriors looked quite comfortable inside Germain Arena. They built a 4-0 lead by the second period with the help of a couple of power play goals, and were able to hold off Florida’s rally attempt. Brendan Connolly had his second two-goal game of the season and after his second made it 4-0 just past seven minutes into the second, Florida starter John Muse was replaced by Pat Nagle. Nagle only gave up Jeff Prough’s fifth power play goal of the season in the third period, but Nic Riopel blanked Florida in the final frame to seal the win.
11/19 at Florida: L 0-5
Jason Missiaen made his second pro start, spelling Nic Riopel who had started each of the last four games, but didn’t get any help from the offense as the Road Warriors were shut out for the first time this season. Florida held a 1-0 lead after one, but quickly gained a larger advantage in the second. Goals 35 seconds apart by Luc Tardif and Leigh Salters put Florida comfortably in the drivers seat. In the third Trevor Bruess and David Rutherford added insurance markers. The Road Warriors registered 29 shots on goal, but Pat Nagle turned aside each one and earned his first pro shutout.
Quick Hits:
* Defense has been the key for the Road Warriors’ wins this season. They are 7-1-0 when holding opponents to three goals or fewer in a game which accounts for 88% of the team’s victories. For the month of November, the Road Warriors have a team goals-against average of 3.25 (5-3-0 record).
* Road Warriors goalie Nic Riopel is tied for second among ECHL goalies with 8 wins on the season, is 15th with a 2.66 goals-against average, and is 11th with a .918 save percentage. Riopel has just two regulation losses in his last 18 regular season starts (18-2-1) dating back to February 2011.
* Road Warriors forward Jeff Prough is two goals away from 100 for his ECHL career. He would become the 169th player in the history of the ECHL to reach that milestone. He is currently tied for third in the league with 10 goals and is second with five power play goals.
* Greenville is 3-for-15 (20%) on the power play against South Carolina this season. Sunday’s match up features the league’s best road power play (Greenville – 31.6%) against the league’s second best home penalty kill (South Carolina – 90%).
* Road Warriors center Justin Bowers played in his 100th ECHL game on Tuesday, November 15 vs. the South Carolina Stingrays. Bowers leads the Road Warriors against the Stingrays this season with six points (1G, 5A) in three games.
Upcoming Events:
Thursday, Dec. 8: Road Warriors vs. Gwinnett Gladiators, 7:35 p.m. – Throwback Thursday Presented by WSSL 100.5, The Greenville News, and New Rock 93.3. Come out to enjoy $2 draught beers, $2 fountain drinks, $2 hot dogs, and $2 pretzels. Also, any college student with a valid ID gets in for just $6.
Friday, Dec. 9: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. – Spinx Family Four Pack. The Spinx Family Four Pack gets you four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips, and four fountain drinks all for just $48!
Friday, Dec. 16: Road Warriors vs. South Carolina Stingrays, 7:35 p.m. – Teddy Bear Toss and Spinx Family Four Pack. Bring a new, or gently used, stuffed animal to the game and throw it onto the ice after the Road Warriors score their first goal! All tossed toys will be donated to charity. The Spinx Family Four Pack gets you four tickets, four hot dogs, four bags of chips, and four fountain drinks all for just $48!
