WHEELING, WV — Shane Harper scored twice to help pace the Greenville Road Warriors to a 5-1 victory over the Wheeling Nailers in Game five of the Eastern Conference Finals Saturday Night at WesBanco Arena. Despite the loss the Nailers still hold a 3-2 lead in the series.
Facing elimination Greenville raced out to an early lead. For the third time in the series, Shane Harper scored the game’s opening goal. Harper scored his third of the postseason by deflecting a Marc-Andre Bourdon shot past goaltender Peter Delmas to give Greenville a 1-0 lead.
Greenville made it 2-0 after a goal by Brandon Wong on a 5-on-3 power play at 6:34. Three and a half minutes later, Justin Bowers netted his first of the postseason on a shot from the slot. Wheeling responded late in the first as Mickael Bedard picked the puck up in front off a turnover, and hurled a shot past goaltender Nic Riopel to pull the Nailers within two at 16:38 of the first.
In the second, Greenville reclaimed the momentum on a fortuitous bounce in front which led to a goal by Marc Oliver-Vallerand to extend the Road Warriors lead to 4-1. The goal would force Delmas out of the game, and allow for the playoff debut of Patrick Killeen. Delmas exited the game making 20 saves on 24 shots.
Shane Harper scored his second goal of the game five minutes later on another tip in front, which clipped high over the shoulder of Killeen. Greenville took a 5-1 lead into the second break.
Nailers started the third with a five-minute power play, as Chris Chappell received a major for boarding. However, the Nailers were unable to convert with the opportunity and Greenville played defensive hockey the rest of the way out to take the game by a 5-1 score. The Road Warriors outshot the Nailers 40-37 in the contest. Killeen stopped 15 of the 16 shots he faced, while Riopel earns his third win of the playoffs making 36 saves.
The series will shift back to Greenville for Game six on Tuesday beginning at 7:35 p.m. at the Bi-Lo Center.
(1) Greenville Road Warriors vs. (4) Wheeling Nailers (Best-of-Seven Series) Wheeling Leads 3-2
Game #1 – Wheeling – 4 at Greenville -3 (Thursday April 14)
Game #2 – Wheeling – 1 at Greenville -2 (OT) (Friday April 15)
Game #3 – Greenville – 2 at Wheeling – 3 (Wednesday April 20)
Game #4 – Greenville – 1 at Wheeling – 2 (Friday April 22)
Game #5 – Greenville – 5 at Wheeling – 1 (Saturday April 23)
Game #6 – at Greenville (Tuesday April 26) – 7:35 pm**
Game #7 – at Greenville (Wednesday April 27) – 7:35 pm**
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