Gladiators Wreck Season Opener for the Rays, 6-2
October 22, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
The Gwinnett Gladiators dominated in their home opener against the South Carolina Stingrays in front of more than 10,000 fans Friday night. The Gladiators are now 6-0-2 in home openers at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
The Stingrays controlled the pace early in the first period, producing the first goal at 4:16 mark on a powerplay goal from Nikita Kashirsky after Gladiators Paul Flache was called for interference. However, the Gladiators quickly responded when Derek Nesbitt tied the game with a sniper shot over the shoulder of goalie Todd Ford halfway through the first period. At the end of 20 minutes the two teams were tied at one.
The Gladiators controlled the second period and scored the go ahead goal 5:30 in. Rookie forward Aaron Bendickson connected with Nesbitt for the second time on the night for Nesbitt's second goal.
The potential third goal was waived off due to goaltender interference, but the Gladiators struck back less than a minute later when Michael Davies fired one in the net. It was Davies first game of the season after he missed the opening road trip.
Nesbitt completed his hat trick with yet another short-handed goal coming from another set up from Bendickson. Bendickson completed the night with four assists and the Gladiators had a 4-1 lead.
The Gladiators weren't done when a fourth goal was scored, coming off the stick of veteran defenseman Paul Flache. As he took a pass to the high point and fired a shot past Ford to chase the goaltender of the year in the ECHL last season.
Kashirsky scored his second of the night in the third to make it a three goal game, but with only 19 seconds left Matt Francis sent the fans out on a high note with a powerplay goal to cap a 6-2 win.
The Gladiators second home game of the season is Saturday, October 23rd at 7:00 p.m. in a rematch against the Florida Everblades.
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from October 22, 2010
- Tordjman shines as Condors roll to first win of the season, 5-0 - Bakersfield Condors
- Stingrays Fall to Gladiators in Season Opener - South Carolina Stingrays
- Jackals Fall In Overtime To Nailers, 3-2 - Elmira Jackals
- Road Warriors Fall In Ot To Everblades - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
- Nailers Defeat Jackals 3-2 - Wheeling Nailers
- Gladiators Wreck Season Opener for the Rays, 6-2 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Blades find way to grind out 7-6 OT win at Greenville - Florida Everblades
- Kalamazoo Defeats Toledo 7-2 - Kalamazoo Wings
- Victoria first ECHL team to offer fans iPhone application - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Salmon Kings Open Home Schedule With Promotion-Packed Weekend - Victoria Salmon Kings
- Reign Adds Goaltender Erickson to Line-Up - Ontario Reign
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Jackals Trade Gallagher to Las Vegas - Elmira Jackals
- Goaltender Travis Yonkman Signs with Thunder - Stockton Thunder
- Erickson Traded to Ontario - South Carolina Stingrays
- Game Preview: Stockton Thunder Vs. Ontario Reign - Stockton Thunder
- Ontario Reign's Opening Night Saturday, October 23 at 7:00 pm - Ontario Reign
- Aces Announce Several Moves to Roster - Alaska Aces
- Walleye Host Kalamazoo Tonight - Toledo Walleye
- Cyclones Weekend Preview: Cincinnati at Kalamazoo - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Jones Called up to Manchester - Ontario Reign
- Countdown to Face-Off - Kalamazoo Wings
- Magnan Becomes 446th ECHL Player to Reach NHL - ECHL
- Jackals Game Preview: Wheeling at Elmira - Elmira Jackals
- Stingrays Gameday: Stingrays Visit Gwinnett to Kick off 2010-11 Season - South Carolina Stingrays
- ECHL Today - ECHL
- Greenville Road Warriors Game Preview - Greenville Swamp Rabbits
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.