BI-LO SPECIAL: WARRIOR BARBECUED WINGS 

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BY: Ray Schmitt, Voice of the Greenville Road Warriors

In front of a season-high 6,158 fans the Greenville Road Warriors bounced back from an earlier loss to the Kalamazoo Wings this week with a 5-2 win on Saturday night at the BI-LO Center. The win improved Greenville to 28-18-3 on the season.

Click here for tonight’s box score

If the Road Warriors had revenge on their mind after being out-scored 5-2 in the second period of a 7-2 loss to Kalamazoo, they let it show in the first period on Saturday. Five goals by the Road Warriors, including one on the power play, had them up by three after 20 minutes of play. The scoring started early with Lee Baldwin netting his fifth of the season 1:58 into the game. He added assists on Brett Robinson‘s power play goal at 14:39 and Brendan Connolly‘s score at 18:23 to give him three points in a game for the second time this week. He also had three assists in Tuesday’s win at South Carolina. Robinson’s strike capped off a stretch of 6:02 of play in which the Road Warriors poured in three goals. Brandon Wong started the onslaught at 8:37 with his 14th of the season and was followed by Jeff Caister netting his second at 10:03. Jason Missiaen, who made his fifth straight start had 16 saves in the period.

The first two periods were as different as night and day as Greenville and Kalamazoo battled to a scoreless draw in the second. The Wings began the period on a power play but generated just two shots on goal, and also went without a goal on a power play midway through the frame. The Road Warriors were also afforded a power play chance in the second, but could not send a shot past goalie Maxime Clermont.

The third period featured no scoring and that suited the Road Warriors just fine. Greenville actually out-shot the Wings 15-9 in the stanza even though it was Kalamazoo trying to make up the three-goal deficit. The Road Warriors had a chance to extend the lead early when Sam Ftorek picked up an interference minor. Clermont and the rest of the Wings slammed the door, though, then went on a power play of their own a minute later. This time it was Missiaen and the Road Warriors killers shining and not allowing the Wings to generate any momentum.

Missiaen earned his tenth win of the season with 38 saves. The Road Warriors were 1-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return home on Sunday, February 12, 2012 to take on the Chicago Express. Sunday is a Family Fun Day featuring a post-game skate with the team, $5 tickets for kids 12 and under, and the Spinx Family Four-Pack (four tickets and food for $48). Any group of 10 or more can also get a discount off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability by booking in advance. Call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to book your group outing with the Road Warriors. Also, please note that the Road Warriors game scheduled for March 1 has been moved to Saturday, March 3 at 7:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. Visit Greenvilleroadwarriors.com for more information.