ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Bite Everblads 4-2

February 23, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators used two power play goal while Matt York's 6th goal of the season late in the second period proved to be the game winner as Gwinnett snapped a 3-game losing streak in a 4-2 win over the Florida Everblades on Friday night. Gwinnett picked up its 30th win of the season improving to 30-17-6 on the season with the victory.

Gladiators netminder Dan Turple made 16 saves for the Gladiators in the opening period as Gwinnett was outshot 16-6 through the first 20 mintues. Florida outshot Gwinnett 12-1 over the first 12 minutes of the first period before the Gladiators put more shots on Florida netminder Craig Kowalski.

Brad Schell broke a scoreless tie just 25 second into the second period with his 23rd goal of the season. Schell ripped a slapshot over the shoulder of Kowalski from the right wing point off a rink wide feed from Scott Mifsud for the marker. Matt York also had an assist on the goal for the Gladiators tapping the puck ahead to Mifsud to set up the marker.

Florida posted the next two goals to take a 2-1 lead on the Gladiators. Adam Taylor flicked the puck past Turple from the slot at the 3:17 mark of the second period to tie the game at two. The goal came on the power play as Brad Zancanaro and Brad Parsons hooked up to pick up the assists on the goal.

Derek Damon gave the Everblades a 2-1 lead as he rolled the puck through Turple's legs at the 4:28 mark of the second period for the marker. Zancanaro and Franklin MacDonald poste4d the assists moving the puck up the ice to Damon to set up the marker.

Blue Bennefield tied the game at 2-2 as he deflected Jamie Milam's slapshot from the point past Kowalski at the 6:27 mark of the second period for the goal. Chad Painchaud and Milam had the assists as they worked the puck at the point on the power play to set up the marker.

Matt York picked up the Gladiators second deflection goal of the game as he redirected Jon Awe's slapshot from the right wing point past Kowalski for the marker. Mike Vigilante also had an assist on the goal for the Gladiators as he was able to move the puck along to Awe at the point to set up the power play goal at the 14:58 mark of the second period.

Chad Painchaud added an insurance goal for the Gladiators 4:01 into the third period. Painchaud walked out of a pile up in the left wing corner and ripped a slap shot over the shoulder of Kowalski for marker. Joel Stepp collected the assist on the goal for the Gladiators.

Turple finished with 36 saves for the Gladiators including 7 in the third period to preserve the win for Gwinnett. The Gladiators went 2-for-4 on the power play in the win.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on February 24th as they host the South Carolina Stingrays on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the spectacular 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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ECHL Stories from February 23, 2007


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