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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Blanked by Everblades 5-0

November 25, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Florida Everblades scored 4 goals in a 6:19 minute span, and it was more than enough to beat the Gwinnett Gladiators Tuesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Kevin Baker and Jacob Micflikier scored two goals and apiece, and goalie Anton Khudobin tallied his third shutout of the season and second in a row to lead Florida to a 5-0 win. The Gladiators fall to 6-6-3 on the season with the loss.

Playing in their fifth game in seven days, the Gladiators could not keep up with a fresher Everblades team. Gwinnett was able to keep the visitors off of the board, though, until about 4 minutes remaining in the first period, when the Everblades took the lead on a goal by forward Jacob Micflikier. With an extra attacker on the ice for a delayed penalty, Ernie Hartlieb held the puck behind the net, and found a slashing Micflikier open in the slot to take the lead.

Florida added another one just over two minutes later. Micflikier carried the puck along the left wing boards, and fired a pass across the middle to Kevin Baker who slid it in past netminder Josh Johnson's left pad.

The Everblades opened the second period on a carryover power play, and cashed in just :27 seconds into the stanza. Kevin Baker scored his second on the night, assisted by Peter Metcalf on a pass from right to left through the crease, and Baker put it in on the left doorstep. Florida added another 1:30 later, again on a delayed penalty. Danick Bouchard tallied his seventh goal of the season, assisted by Harrison Reed and Ross Carlson. Micflikier added his second of the game and fourth of the season midway through the final stanza to close out the scoring.

The Gladiators managed to get some of their own offensive rhythm going but ultimately were not able to convert on the power play, going 0-for-9 on the evening. Florida netminder Anton Khudobin made 23 saves to earn the shutout.

Gwinnett was outshot by an opponent for the first time all season, by a 30-23 margin. The loss is the second in the row for Gwinnett after winning three straight.

The Gladiators return to action Thursday, November 27th, at 7:05 p.m. against in-state rival Augusta at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 23 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - season ticket packages 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 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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