GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Greenville Road Warriors and the Wheeling Nailers hit the ice for the all-important game seven of their ECHL Eastern Conference Semi-Final Series. A win for either team gets them a date with the Kalamazoo Wings in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The series seemed to be in the Nailers’ grasp as after four games, Wheeling was up in the series, 3-1. The Nailers had one more home game in game five to win the series, but they weren’t able to pull it out, as Greenville took game five with a 5-1 victory, thus forcing last night’s game six in Greenville.
Again, the Nailers needed one win to move on, but yet again Greenville’s goal scorers came alive and the Road Warriors won their second straight to tie the series up at three.
The game started out with both teams playing a conservative style, perhaps due to a tough game the night before, until one of Wheeling’s top scorers Joey Haddad was able to find the back of the net on a power play, assisted by Chris Kushneriuk and Paul Crowder at the 12:31 mark of the first frame.
Greenville’s Marc-Olivier Vallerand scored his fifth goal of the playoffs at 17:06, which tied the game at one as the first period came to a close.
Wheeling came out of the first intermission on fire, as Joey Haddad scored again this time at the 5:51 mark. Kushneriuk and Crowder again picked up the assist. Two minute later at the 7:26 mark, the same Wheeling lit the lamp again, this time Crowder got the goal with Kushneriuk and Haddad credited with the assists. With the score 3-1, in Wheeling’s favor it seemed as if the Road Warriors ride was running out of gas, but then Andrew Rowe scored off a Brendan Connolly pass at the 16:27 mark of the second.
With Wheeling now up 3-2, the team’s dropped the puck on the final twenty minutes of regulation play in the series. Wheeling put up thirteen shots in the third period on Greenville’s goaltender Nic Riopel, but the net minder stood tall and didn’t let a puck past him. With time ticking down on the Road Warriors season, the Greenville club seemed to get a shot in the arm when Wheeling’s Kris Vernasky was called for high-sticking and was sent to the box for two minutes, giving Greenville a power play opportunity at the 17:45 mark of the third period. The minutes continued to tick down on their opportunity, but then Brendan Connolly sent a slap shot whizzing by Wheeling’s Peter Delmas’ glove to tie the game at 3.
Connolly’s goal came with only twenty-two seconds left in regulation. The goal gave Greenville a chance as the teams skated toward the end of regulation and into overtime.
In the overtime, Greenville had several chances but could not capitalize and clinch the series, instead just as they did in regulation the line of Joey Haddad, Paul Crowder, and Chris Kusheriuk rose to the occasion, create a turnover and give the Nailers the 4-3 victory, allowing the Nailers to move on to face Kalamazoo in the Eastern Conference Finals.
For Greenville, despite the loss, a great first season came to end, leaving fans looking forward to next season.
Contact author at ryan.kouvolo@prohockeynews.com .
You must be logged in to post a comment.