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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Bite Rays, 4-2

April 6, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Jim Jackson netted a pair of goals for the Gladiators to help Gwinnett to a 4-2 win over the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday night on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. With the win, the Gladiators remain in third place in the South Division with 89 points. Charlotte won to keep Gwinnett just one point shy of clinching at least third place in the South Division playoff race.

South Carolina jumped out to a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators midway through the first period. Micheal Haley capitalized on a Gladiators turnover as he jammed the puck past Gladiators netminder Dave Caruso at the 10:34 mark of the first period for the goal. Marc Busenburg and Matt Stefanishion had the assists on the goal.

Gwinnett jumped out to a 2-1 lead on the Stingrays with a pair of goals less than a minute apart midway through the second period. Colton Fretter, in his first game back since being injured on February 14th, posted his 18th power play goal of the season and pushed his team lead for goals to 36 as he beat South Carolina netminder Davis Parley to the short side for the marker. Jon Awe and Scott Mifsud added the assists working the puck on the power play to set up Fretter on the marker at the 12:29 of the second period.

Jim Jackson gave the Gladiators the lead, ripping a slap shot over the shoulder Parley off an offensive zone face off in the South Carolina zone. Jamie Milam and Mike Vigilante collected the assists on the goal as they set up Jackson's 15 goal of the season at the 12:57 mark of the second period.

Joel Stepp gave the Gladiators a 3-1 lead on the Stingrays at the 10:08 mark of the third period. On a penalty kill, Stepp collected a loose puck just inside the Gladiators blue line and raced the length of the ice with Awe but finished the play, beating Parley to the short side for the goal. Stepp's 15th goal of the season came unassisted and shorthanded for the Gladaitors.

South Carolina got back within a goal just 1:35 after Stepp's marker on Haley's second goal of the night. Haley jammed the puck past Caruso at the 11:43 mark of the third period for the marker. Nate Kiser and Fretter added the assists on the goal for the Stingrays to cut the Gladiators lead to one goal.

Gwinnett added an empty net goal with just one second left in the third period as Jackson added his second goal of the night and his 16th marker of the season. Vigilante and Fretter added the assists on the power play goal, the Gladiators second man advantage tally of the night.

Caruso finished with 32 saves for the Gladiators as he posted his 23 win of the season. Gwinnett and South Carolina each finished with 34 shots in the contest.

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