Solar Bears Slide by Glads, 3-2
March 29, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
DULUTH, Ga. - After a back-and-forth tight battle throughout the game, a short-handed goal midway through the third period by the Orlando Solar Bears (35-23-5-3) would cement a win for the opposition over the Gladiators (18-43-3-3), 3-2, on Sunday afternoon. Mike Merrifield and Sean Berkstresser each tallied a goal, while Tyler Shiplo notched his first professional point.
The Gladiators came onto the ice decked out in their sharp black uniforms for their last Sunday home game of the season, and quickly battled their way up the ice to take the initial lead over the Solar Bears. Upon receiving the puck from Tyler Murovich, Sean Berkstresser brought the puck even to the goal line on the far left flank and sent in an off-balanced shot that just squeezed in on an odd bounce past Garret Sparks at 4:49.
However, Orlando put up quite the fight, battling to hang onto the final playoff spot in the East Division. The Solar Bears doubled up the Gladiators' shots on net, at 14, and were able to tie up the score with less than five minutes in the period. Johnny McInnis' shot barely trickled in past Kent Patterson in net, to give the forward his sixteenth of the season at 15:45.
After a scoreless, neck and neck second period, the home team took control to start the third period, and regained their lead at 4:09. On a power play, Mike Merrifield grabbed the pass from Justin Buzzeo and immediately smashed a shot at Sparks from between the hash-marks. The puck deflected out, and Merrifield rebounded his own shot, this time finding the net for his second of the season.
Nevertheless, Orlando once again evened the score only minutes later. Former Gladiator Marshall Everson centered the puck back to Max Nicastro just inside the point, who then sent a bullet into the net at 8:15.
At 10:41, the shorthanded Solar Bears took the first and only lead of the afternoon. Brady Vail stole the puck from the neutral zone while on the penalty kill, flew down the ice, and single-handedly wristed in a shot that rose over Patterson's reach. The Gladiators made a valiant effort in the remaining minutes of the third period, pulling Patterson from the net and overwhelming Orlando's end on a late power play, but still were unable to score.
Kent Patterson saved 34 of Orlando's 37 shots, while Garret Sparks went 23 for 25, grabbing the win. The Solar Bears take the edge in the season series, winning seven of the 12 games this year.
The Gladiators head to Greenville to take on the Road Warriors in back-to-back games starting this Thursday, April 2nd, at 7:00 p.m. The team will return home to The Arena at Gwinnett Center on April 4th to once again take on the Greenville Road Warriors for the team's second-to-last home game of the season at 7:05 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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