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Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Burned by Stingrays, 5-1

March 6, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - The South Carolina Stingrays (32-18-1-6) set a new franchise record for consecutive wins by defeating the Gladiators (17-33-32), 5-1 on Friday night. Gwinnett scored the game's first goal thanks to Brenden Walker, but the Stingrays responded with five unanswered for the remainder of the game.

Looking at new line combinations thanks to significant additions and subtractions in the past week, the Gladiators looked upbeat to start the game. On their first shot of the game, the Gladiators took the early 1-0 lead. Mike Merrifield, who was back in the lineup for the first time since October 25th, led Brenden Walker on a 2-on-1 into the offensive zone off a bad South Carolina change. Walker lifted the one-timer by former Gladiator Jeff Jakaitis at 3:01.

The Stingrays responded a few minutes later on a turnover in the corner. Rob Ricci played a fortunate bounce out of the right corner and quickly wristed it by an unsuspecting Mike Lee at 7:49. Both sides played a competitive remainder of the period with the score tied at one.

At 4:54 of the second, South Carolina returned the favor of Gwinnett's first goal when they took advantage of a bad Gwinnett break. With several bodies falling around him, Garrett Haar created space for himself right in front of Lee, dangled forehand to backhand, and slid the puck in to give the Stingrays the 2-1 lead.

Another two-on-one for South Carolina created another goal, this time at 9:35 as Andrew Ammon finished off Tim Spencer's pass. Joe Devin scored one more even strength goal at 1:23 of the third period as he shot the puck through Lee from the top of the slot.

The Gladiators outshot and outchanced the Stingrays 13-to-6 in the third period, and on one offensive zone rush, Casey Pierro-Zabotel, the Eastern Conference leading scorer was knee-to-kneed by Scott Ford at the left point. Pierro-Zabotel was done for the night, as was Ford with a game misconduct, and Gwinnett was given a five minute power play. They were unable to score on the advantage, with only Lee Moffie able to post the empty net, shorthanded tally for South Carolina at 16:40.

Gwinnett was 0-for-4 on the man advantage, but they outshot South Carolina 30-to-27. Jakaitis picked up the win with a 29-for-30 effort, and Lee got the loss for a 22-for-26 evening. With the win, the Stingrays have won 14 consecutive games, a new franchise record, and it puts them three wins shy of the ECHL record set by Cincinnati in 2008.

The Gladiators will finally return to home from their eight-game road trip on Saturday, March 7th for $5 Frenzy Night - Mesh Replica Jerseys also against the Stingrays. The game will be broadcast on AM 550 and FM 102.9, WDUN, and www.gwinnettgladiators.com/radio, starting at 6:50 p.m.

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.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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