BY: Ray Schmitt, voice of the Greenville Road Warriors
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Road Warriors came from behind for a 2-1 shootout win over the South Carolina Stingrays on Saturday night at the BI-LO Center. The win improved Greenville’s record to 6-5-0 on the season.
Click here for tonight’s box score.
The first period was the goalies’ time to shine as Nic Riopel and Philipp Grubauer combined for 16 saves and did not allow for a goal in the frame. Riopel made the best save of the period when he gloved a shot by South Carolina‘s Paul Baier from the left wing near the midway point of the period. Greenville’s best chance came a few minutes later in a 3-on-1 rush but Justin Bowers’ shot from the left wing whistled just out of the reach of Grubauer.
Greenville was able to generate the majority of scoring chances in the second period, but it was a power play goal by South Carolina’s Greg Stewart that broke the scoreless tie. The Stingrays had their best chance of the night to cash in when Stewart was awarded a penalty shot at 14:29. He tried to slip a shot past Riopel low to the blocker side, but the Road Warriors’ goaltender deflected it away. Brandon Wong twice hit the post high to the glove side on Grubauer, but could not convert. With the Stingrays on the power play, Stewart beat Riopel to the blocker side with a shot from the point at 18:11, and South Carolina took that lead into the break.
The third period was a battle of wills between the Road Warriors offense which was battling for the tying goal, and South Carolina’s smothering defense. The Stingrays were relentless and held the Road Warriors without an official shot on goal until the third was 19 minutes old. But in that final minute, with Riopel pulled for the extra attacker, Marc-Olivier Vallerand shuffled a backhanded shot through traffic and past a screened Grubauer. The goal was Vallerand’s fifth of the season with assists going to Connor Shields and Wes Cunningham. With 24 seconds left in the game, South Carolina’s Sean Dolan took a delay of game minor that left Greenville on the power play to begin the overtime frame.
Despite the four-on-three advantage, the Road Warriors couldn’t cash in and had to wait until the shootout to try to claim victory. Grubauer proved tough to beat there too as he denied each of the first three Road Warriors’ shooters. Riopel matched him save-for-save, though, and Justin Bowers finally broke through in the top of the fourth. South Carolina’s Nick Tabisz match the effort to send the shootout to sudden death, but the Road Warriors persevered. Connor Shields and Brett Robinson beat Grubauer while Riopel allowed a goal to Pierre-Luc O’Brien, but stopped Jerry Pollastrone to earn the win.
Riopel stopped 35 shots for his sixth win of the season. Greenville was 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill.
Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return to home ice on Tuesday, November 15 to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:35 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. It’s a Two for Tuesday presented by BI-LO. Road Warriors fans can show their BI-LO BONUSCARD at the Breakaway Honda Box Office at the BI-LO Center to get one free ticket with the purchase of a ticket of equal value. Don’t forget that your group of 10 or more can get discounts off the box office price and preferred seating based on availability by booking in advance. Call 864-674-PUCK (7825) to talk to a Road Warriors representative.
Related
Mitch Beck
Related posts
Top picks
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
PRE-GAME: WOLF PACK CAN CLOSE OUT BRUINS TONIGHT
PRE-GAME REPORT: WOLF PACK LOOK TO CLOSE OUT SERIES AGAINST BRUINS AT XL CENTER By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack welcome the Providence Bruins to town tonight for Game 4 of their Atlantic Division Semifinals series. Thanks to…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK SEND BRUINS PACKING WITH OT WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack HARTFORD, CT – The Hartford Wolf Pack are headed to the Atlantic Division Finals for the second straight season. A wild bounce saw a puck clip Jake Leschyshyn and beat Brandon Bussi 9:41 into overtime of Game 4 at…
WOLF PACK SUFFER UGLY LOSS TO P-BRUINS IN GAME 2
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack were forced to settle for a split in Providence, as the Bruins roared back to take Game 2 6-0 at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday night. The series, now tied 1-1,…
WOLF PACK TAKE GAME ONE OF SEMIS IN P-TOWN
By: Shay Costa, Howlings PROVIDENCE, RI – The Hartford Wolf Pack’s Anton Blidh scored 1:28 into the third period to give the team a 4-3 road win against his former team, the Providence Bruins, in Game One of the Atlantic Division semifinal in front of…
WOLF PACK GET 3-PT NIGHT FROM PITLICK IN GM 1 WIN
By: Alex Thomas, Hartford Wolf Pack PROVIDENCE, RI – Tyler Pitlick picked up three points on Wednesday night as the Hartford Wolf Pack marched into the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence and took Game 1 of their best-of-five Atlantic Division Semifinals series. The Wolf Pack…
ORLANDO ENDS SWAMP RABBITS SEASON
Swamp Rabbits show life late, but Orlando pulls away to win the series BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC– Jaydon Dureau’s two-goal night spearheaded a 5-1 Orlando Solar Bears win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Tuesday to win the South Division Semifinals…
SWAMP RABBITS ANSWER BACK IN GAME 2
Eberle nets game-winner; three multi-point performers shine in win BY: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, SC—Tanner Eberle broke a deadlock in a wild third period to headline the Greenville Swamp Rabbits’ Game 2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears by a 4-2 score on Monday…
SWAMP RABBITS DROP GAME 1 in OT
Spencer Kersten ends a 72-minute game to steal Game 1 from Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – Spencer Kersten ended a marathon goalie duel to give the Orlando Solar Bears a lead in the South Division Semifinals, 1-0, over the Greenville…
SWAMP RABBITS SCHEDULE FOR SOUTH DIVISION SEMIFINALS
Swamp Rabbits and Solar Bears begin a best-of-seven series this Sunday in Greenville By: Mark Binetti, Greenville Swamp Rabbits GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Swamp Rabbits, proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings, announced the full schedule for the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs…