ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Frantic Third Period Comeback Falls Short, 5-4

Published on December 17, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


ESTERO, Fla. - With everything stacked against the Gladiators (7-14-1-0) in the opening minutes of the third, Gwinnett hunkered down and nearly tied the game in the closing 20 for the third time in the last four games. They couldn't bridge the gap against the Florida Everblades (18-3-0-1), however, and ultimately fell 5-4 on Wednesday night.

Trailing 5-2 in the opening four minutes of the third period, the Gladiators responded with two goals and plenty of opportunities. 20 seconds into Gwinnett's second power play of the night, Casey Pierro-Zabotel drew all of Florida's defenders to the left of the offensive zone, and guiding a pass to a rushing J.P. Labardo. With Daniel Altshuller striding right to left, Labardo sniped the right corner of the net for his fourth of the year.

At 6:39, Joe Stejskal suddenly made it a one-goal game, cleaning up a missed pass in the low slot and clanging it around the cage behind Altshuller. But Gwinnett could not finish the comeback despite outshooting Florida and gaining many more significant opportunities.

The Gladiators set the tone early with their earliest goal of the season, just 25 seconds in. Jordon Southorn, who made his return to the Gladiators' roster a few hours before game time, ripped a slapshot from the top of the zone, slipping one underneath Altshuller.

Florida would challenge from there, but Gwinnett would double up the lead at the midway point of the period. Off a defensive zone clear, Nathan Burns flipped a high lead pass nearly across three lines to a streaking Will MacDonald. The former Everblade left the defenseman in the dust, coming in on Altshuller and beating him between the knees at 10:20 of the first.

After that, Florida would storm back with five straight goals, starting with Alex Lavoie's sixth of the season at 13:48 of first. A knocked-out pane of glass brought the first period to a premature end, with 3:32 of game time pushed to the beginning of the second period section.

In the second, Florida knocked three goals in on 15 shots. John McInnis tied the score at two at 4:30. Three minutes later, Kevin Lynch gave the Everblades the 3-2 lead on the power play. At 11:42, former Gladiators Evan Bloodoff beat Mike Lee through a screen to give Florida a two-goal cushion.

Artem Sergeev would end up scoring the game-winning goal at 3:35 of the third. Altshuller and Lee both made 27 saves on the night, but Lee would face one more shot - 32 to Altshuller's 31.

The two sides will meet once again in Germain Arena on Friday night at 7:30. Gwinnett will return to The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sunday, December 21st for a 2:05 p.m. tilt against the Orlando Solar Bears.

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.

As Atlanta's "One and Only" professional hockey team, the Gladiators have established an extraordinary winning tradition and unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment. The Gladiators are consistently ranked as one of the top "Things To Do" in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region.

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