ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Road Warriors Battle Back For Win

December 29, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - The Greenville Road Warriors earned a hard-fought road win over the South Carolina Stingrays on Wednesday night. Greenville earned its first shootout win of the season to pick up the 4-3 victory and improve its record to 22-6-2 on the season.

After their most productive third period of the season on Monday night against South Carolina, the Road Warriors carried that momentum into Wednesday night's game. A bench minor for too many men on the ice 1:20 into the game left South Carolina shorthanded early on, and the Road Warriors were happy to take advantage. Wes Cunningham set up Jimmy Kilpatrick for a one-timer from the left wing. Todd Ford made a quick pad save, but Justin Bowers pounced on the rebound and sent it home at the 2:04 mark. The goal was Bowers' 11th of the season. Another rebound led to the Road Warriors' second goal. Trevor Glass took a wicked slapshot from nearly the same spot as Kilpatrick's, and this time it was Sean Berkstresser who scored off of the rebound. The goal was registered at 13:28 and was also assisted by Chris McKelvie. Dov Grumet-Morris turned in nine saves in the period to keep Greenville up by two heading into the intermission.

Momentum swung in the complete opposite direction during the second period. South Carolina came out and earned a quick goal from Josh Godfrey to trim the deficit to one. The Stingrays' defenseman took a wrist shot from mid range on the right wing and beat Grumet-Morris high to the blocker side at 1:20 of the second. Just 56 seconds after that Trent Campbell jabbed a rebound past the Road Warriors' goaltender to tie the game at two. Greenville was able to generate some pressure in the frame, especially on a power play with Luke Popko off for delay of game at 14:28. Ford, however, was strong in net for the Rays and turned aside each shot he faced in the frame. Campbell's second of the night gave South Carolina its first lead at the 12:42 mark, and Greenville wasn't able to even the score before the intermission.

Facing a world of adversity in the third period trailing by one and without Trevor Glass and Brendan Connolly who were lost due to injuries the Road Warriors were behind the proverbial eight ball. But a couple of reliable sources came through to help Greenville knot the game up in the final frame. Grumet-Morris turned aside each of the 10 shots he faced in the frame and Bowers picked up the tying goal. Jimmy Kilpatrick sprung Bowers on a rush off of a faceoff win by the Road Warriros. Bowers was able to carry the puck deep into Stingrays ice and attempt a shot from just off of the left post. The initial shot was turned aside by Ford, but Bowers poked the puck through as he was drifting by the net at the 8:36 mark. Despite a couple of chances, neither team could cash in during regulation and the game went to overtime. In the extra frame South Carolina out-shot the Road Warriors 8-0, but Grumet-Morris was stellar and moved the game to a shootout.

In the breakaway competition Greenville received goals from Voakes, Brandon Wong, and the winner from Marc-Olivier Vallerand. South Carolina's Campbell and David de Kastrozza squeezed shots past Grumet-Morris. But with a chance to tie it was the Stingrays' final shooter Tommy Goebel and the crafty winger blasted one wide of the goal to give Greenville the win.

Grumet-Morris saved 35 shots in earning his 14th win of the season while the Road Warriors were 1-for-5 on the power play and 4-for-4 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors return to home ice on Sunday, January 2 to take on the Wheeling Nailers at 4:05 p.m. at the BI-LO Center. There will be a post-game skate with the Road Warriors immediately following the contest. The skate session is free with a ticket stub, and there are skates for rent if you don't have your own. Group tickets are still available for your group of 10 or more. Call 864-674-PUCK to speak to a Road Warriors group sales representative and find out how you can save on the box office price, receive preferred seating based on availability and enjoy other great benefits.

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ECHL Stories from December 29, 2010


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