ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Checkers Hold Off Gladiators 4-2

Published on March 13, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


After falling 5-4 in a shootout to the Charlotte Checkers on Thursday, the Gladiators looked to capture two points with a victory in Charlotte on Saturday night. After falling down 3-2 after two periods of play, the Gladiators fell just short in the third including a goal that was waived off. The Checkers took the eventual 4-2 victory with an empty net goal in the last ten seconds of the game.

The Checkers wasted no time getting on the board in the first period. Just 2:15 into the game, Mike Taylor took a pass on top of the goal crease and tapped a shot past Danny Taylor and into the back of the Gladiators net. Aaron Slattengren and Devin DiDiomete picked up assists on the goal.

Dan Sullivan would strike next to even up the contest for the Gladiators. Sean Hurley dug a puck free behind the net and quickly spun a pass into the slot. Mike McLean found the loose puck and threw it back at Checkers netminder Ryan Munce. Sullivan tapped the shot over Munce's shoulder to collect the goal.

Charlotte was able to regain their lead before the end of the first period. David Marshall looked to center a puck to Mike Taylor, but Jamie Fritsch blocked the pass. Unfortunately for Gwinnett, the loose puck landed right on the tape of Slattengren's stick, and he lifted a shot into the top right corner of the net, giving the Checkers a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.

Trevor Hendrikx found the net for the Checkers just 1:26 into the second period. Stefanishion forced a turnover in the attacking zone, and Daniel Tkaczuk centered a puck to Hendrikx in the slot. Hendrikx fired a shot that found its way through traffic to give the Checkers a 3-1 lead.

Gwinnett cut the Checkers lead in half with a short-handed goal by Drew Paris. Tim Miller and Paris teamed up to clear the puck out of the Gladiators zone, and Paris carried the puck up the right wing boards through the neutral zone and into the attacking end. Paris fired a shot as he hit the top of the right circle and snuck a shot inside the right post. The second period would end with the Gladiators trailing 3-2.

With no scoring into the final minute of the third period, the Gladiators pulled goaltender Danny Taylor in favor of a sixth attacker. Unfortunately, Aaron Slattengren would pick up a loose puck in the Gladiators zone, and buried a shot into the empty net to give the Checkers a 402 victory.

The Gladiators fall to 28-27-4-3 with the loss, and Charlotte improved to 34-20-4-3. The Gladiators finished 0-4 on the Applebees power play, while the Checkers finished 0-3. Danny Taylor stopped 27 shots in the loss for Gwinnett.

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ECHL Stories from March 13, 2010


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