Gladiators Bested by Bears, 4-1
March 24, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
ORLANDO, Fla. - Playing their final game in Orlando in 2014-15, the Gladiators (17-41-3-3) came close several times to beating Garret Sparks, but they couldn't get enough as the Orlando Solar Bears defeated Gwinnett, 4-1 on Tuesday night.
Following a very tight, but scoreless, first period, Orlando took the lead at 3:18 of the first. Brock Montgomery stole the puck away from Gwinnett on a botched zone exit by the Gladiators. He passed it on to Brady Vail, who danced around the remaining Gladiators in the low zone, and backhanded a puck underneath Kent Patterson.
The Solar Bears doubled up their lead at 7:56 on an impressive tic-tac-toe passing display from John McInnis from the left point, to Marshall Everson in the right circle, and finally to Jacob Cepis at the left post. The whole sequence took less than a couple seconds, and gave Cepis enough time to tuck the puck once again beneath Patterson.
The Gladiators got back into the game at 17:29 with a 4-on-3 power play. Zach Yuen slammed the puck from the top of the zone through the slot and by Garret Sparks. The Gladiators almost scored again several times on the abbreviated 5-on-4 power play afterwards, but Sparks stood tall and held the line.
In the third, Orlando pulled away with goals from Peter Sivak at 3:50 on the power play, and Brett Findlay at 7:06. Despite his hard work in the crease, Kent Patterson picked up the loss, making 35 saves on 39 shots. Garret Sparks swept Gwinnett for the week, his third straight win on 32 saves.
The Gladiators head home now for three straight games at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. They'll kick off the brief home-stand with a Friendly Friday against the Orlando Solar Bears on March 27th at 7:35 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WDUN.com and www.gwinnettgladiators.com/radio, starting at 7:20 p.m.
For tickets and schedule information, visit the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.
The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league, and are affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth - where parking is always free.
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