Sports stats



ECHL Greenville Swamp Rabbits

Road Warriors Stumble in OT against 'Blades

March 12, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Swamp Rabbits News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Greenville Road Warriors put up a valiant effort at Germain Arena on Saturday night and earned a standings point for their efforst. They couldn't grab the bonus point in overtime, though, and fell by a 4-3 score to the Everblades. The loss slipped Greenville's record to 37-21-4 on the season. The first period felt like the first round of a championship boxing match as the Road Warriors and Everblades seemed to be feeling one another out more than looking to control the pace of play. Florida had the best chance early on as Dusty Collins broke loose on a breakaway near the midway point of the period. His shot, though, was blockered away by Nic Riopel and the game remained deadlocked. Greenville picked up the first power play of teh game at 9:33 of the frame when Drew Larman went of for interference. The Road Warriors managed one shot during the advantage, but couldn't beat Bobby Goepfert. Florida, then, received back-to-back power play chances and cashed in on the second one. Ross Carlson fed a slap shot past Riopel from high on the left wing at 15:55 to give Florida the 1-0 advantage. Greenville managed a flurry of shots in the final few minutes, but Goepfert turned away each challenge and allowed Florida's lead to stand at the first intermission.

The second period turned into a special teams duel with the goaltenders actually stealing the show. The Road Warriors had the first great chance with a 44-second 5-on-3 power play early in the frame. On the advantage Justin Bowers created the best chance with a centering pass from the left wing side of the goal. Goepfert, though, deflected the pass and covered the puck up before it could get to Brendan Connolly. Greenville had 1:16 remaining on a 5-on-4, but the best chance there went to Matt Beca on a shorthanded breakaway. Riopel came out to challenge and denied that bid to keep the Road Warriors within one. Riopel was then at his best during a 1:33 5-on-3 for the Everblades that Greenville was able to survive. Shortly after that, the Road Warriors were back shorthanded as a result of a too many men on the ice minor but, again, Riopel and the penalty killers stemmed the Everblades' attack. Greenville finally broke through on Goepfert when Chris Clackson whistled a backhander across the goal line with 59 seconds left in the frame. Connolly and T.J. Reynolds picked up the assists on Clackson's ninth goal of the season.

Greenville and Florida battled back and forth in a wild third period that saw the score remain deadlocked and eventually send the game to overtime. A shorthanded goal by Florida's Alex Hutchings left the Road Warriors in a hole with 9:30 left in the game. But before the celebration of Hutchings' goal died down the Road Warriors quieted the crowd with a power play goal by Jimmy Kilpatrick 14 seconds after Florida had taken the lead. In the waning moments of regulation Matt Beca sored in tight with 1:49 remaining and appeared to set Florida up for the regulation win. Brendan Connolly, however, had a say in that before the clock expired as he punched a puck in from the goal mouth at 18:37. In the extra session the Road Warriors took a penalty that allowed for Beca to pick up his second goal of the night and give Florida the bonus point at 2:55 of the extra session.

Riopel took the loss while making 26 saves on the night. The Road Warriors went 1-for-5 on the power play and 5-for-7 on the penalty kill.

Mark your calendars! The Road Warriors will return to home ice at the BI-LO Center on Thursday, March 17 to battle the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:05 p.m. Thursday's game will be the first of three-game stretch against the Cyclones. Come out and support the Road Warriors by sporting your green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day as the players will be wearing specialty green jerseys all weekend. The jerseys will be auctioned off immediately after Saturday's game. Thursday night's game is also Carolina Ale House Dollar Drink Night and will feature $1.oo Selected Draft Beers and Fountain Sodas. You can also head to Carolina Ale House after the game and enjoy $1.oo selected drafts all night long! Tickets are still available and groups of 10 or more qualify for discounts off of the box office price, preferred seating based on availability, and other great benefits. Call 864-674-PUCK to speak to a Road Warriors group sales representative.

Check out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits Statistics

• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...

ECHL Stories from March 12, 2011


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central