GREENVILLE, S.C. – After splitting the first two games, the Road Warriors and Jackals headed to Greenville on Friday night for game three in their best-of-five series. A game three victory would give either team an advantage in the series, not only with the series lead, but also an emotional standpoint. For Elmira, a win could potentially limit the home ice advantage the Road Warriors have for the remainder of the series. For Greenville, a win at the team’s first ever home playoff game would be historic, plus give them a great chance at winning the series in four games.
Both teams literally came onto the BI-LO Center ice swinging, when Greenville captain T.J. Reynolds and Elmira rookie Brian Lebler dropped the gloves at the 1:35 mark of the first frame. With a physical hockey game starting to take shape, Greenville’s Chris McKelvie scored off a Marc-Olivier Vallerand pass that gave the forward a great look in front of Elmira’s goaltender Marco Cosineau at 10:28 in the first period. Following the goal, both Cosineau and Greenville’s Chris Beckford-Tseu protected their nets and did not let a puck past them.
The teams headed into the first intermission with Greenville up 1-0.
The second period picked up where the first left off, with both goaltenders playing lights out hockey in front of both nets. Greenville’s offense threw thirteen pucks at Elmira’s Marco Cosineau and not a single one hit the back of the net. On the other side of the ice, Greenville’s defense played a solid period by only allowing Elmira eight shots at the net. At one point it looked as if Elmira would tie it up, when Greenville’s Brad Cole was called for a tripping call at the 10:38 mark. With Brendan Connolly already in the penalty box serving two minutes for roughing, Elmira had a two-man advantage, however with only three skaters Greenville’s penalty kill shut down Elmira’s power play and got through both penalty kills without much of a scratch.
With both teams still playing a physical game and Greenville still ahead by one, the game was still up for grabs.
The third period contained much of the same, with both goaltenders keeping the nets shut down. The teams traded penalties throughout the third period. With only a minute and fifteen seconds remaining in the game, Elmira pulled Cosineau in order to bring on an extra attacker.
“Heading into the last two minutes, I kept my focus on where the puck was at and made the saves I needed to make,” said Greenville goaltender Chris Beckford-Tseu.
Their plan backfired when Greenville’s Sam Klassen scored a long shot that sailed into the empty net and gave the Road Warriors the 2-0 victory.
“Our team played a fantastic game on defense,” said Head Coach Dean Stork. “We had a solid penalty kill which also helped us out.”
Greenville limited a talented Elmira team to only eighteen shots on goal during the game, which helped the team get the win and take a 2-1 series lead.
The series returns to the BI-LO Center ice Saturday night for game four. If Greenville wins, they move on to the second round. An Elmira win will force a game five which would be played on Monday night.
Contact author at ryan.kouvolo@prohockeynews.com .
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