Gladiators Blanked 2-0 By Stingrays
January 2, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
The Gwinnett Gladiators dropped a 2-0 decision to the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum. Gladiators netminder Kevin Nastiuk made 33 saves in the losing effort for Gwinnett in the contest as the Gladiators fall to 12-15-4 on the season.
South Carolina took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators at 9:04 of the first period. Bryson Busniuk capitalized on a Gladiators turnover to pick up the goal. Busniuk was able to beat Nastiuk over the shoulder for the marker from the left wing circle. Sasha Pokulok and Tommy Maxwell added the assists on the goal for the Stingrays.
The second period ended as it began with the Stingrays holding a 1-0 lead. South Carlina had opportunites to extend their lead in the middle stanza but couldn't convert. The Stingrays celebrated an apparent goal about 8 minutes into the second period but it was waived off by referee Steve Patafie as hitting the crossbar. The Stingrays then had another goal disallowed, this one coming about 15 minutes into the period, as Patafie waived off the marker as the puck that got past Nastiuk was kicked into the net.
Later in the second period, South Carolina could not convert on a penalty shot opportunity with just 1:50 left in the middle stanza. Matt Siddall was whistled for covering the puck with his hand in the goal crease awarding the penalty shot to the Stingarys. Travis Morin couldn't get a good shot away on Nastiuk as the puck rolled off the forward's stick and trickled into Nastiuk's pad keeping the Stingrays lead to just one goal.
Gwinett had a chance to equalize the contest at 14:08 of the third period with a penalty shot chance but couldn't convert. Brad Schell rolled the puck into the chest of Stingrays netminder Bobby Goepfert on the chance. Gwinnett drew the penatly shot as Goepfert threw his stick drawing the penalty.
Gwinnett pulled Nastiuk with over a minute remaining in the third period but the Gladaitors could not capitalize with the extra attacker. South Carolina added an empty net goal to put the contest away with just 27 seconds left in the third period. Pierre-Luc O'Brien picked up the empty net goal from just inside the Gwinnett blue line. Jeff Corey and Travis Morin had the assists on the goal for South Carolina.
Nastiuk finished with 32 saves in the losing effort for the Gladiators as both teams were unsuccessful on the power play in the contest. Gwinnett finished 0-for-7 on the power play while South Carolina went 0-for-6 with the extra attacker.
Gwinnett continues action in the 2008-09 season on Saturday, January 3rd as they host the South Carolina Stingrays at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.
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