ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Clinch Playoff Berth with 3-2 win over Ice Pilots

Published on February 28, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators used two goals from Jon Awe and a shorthanded tally from Jeff Campbell to beat the Pensacola Ice Pilots 3-2 on Tuesday night at the Pensacola Civic Center to clinch a 2006 Kelly Cup Playoff berth. Gwinnett improves to 36-11-7 on the season with the win.

Awe's slap shot just 83 seconds into the first period on the power play gave the Gladiators a 1-0 lead. Campbell played catch with Awe at the point pushing the puck back and forth before Cambpell set up Awe on a one-timer for the tally.

Gwinnett took a two-goal lead on Awe's second marker of the game and his sixth of the season, again beating Pensacola netminder David Cann with a slapshot. Scott Mifsud moved the puck through the neutral zone and dropped it off to Awe who slid in over the blue line and ripped a slapshot over Cann's shoulder for the tally at 5:34 of the first period.

Pensacola got on the board at the 11:03 mark of the opening stanza as Adam Courchane beat Sean Fields on the power play. Bobby Cunningham fed Courchane in the slot where he punched the puck home to pull the Ice Pilots within a goal.

Jeff Campbell posted his 25th goal of the season to push the Gladiators lead back to two goals early in the second period with a shorthanded marker. Brad Schell jammed the puck into the neutral zone and moved in on a 2-on-1 break with Campbell to set up the tally. Campbell ripped a one timer past Cann just 2:05 into the second period for the goal.

Pensacola got within a goal on a slap shot from the left point by Nate Metcalfe 6:02 in to the third period. Shaun Landolt picked up an assist on the goal as he won the offensive zone draw right back to Metcalfe to set up the tally.

The Ice Pilots pulled Cann with less than a minute remaining for an extra attacker but could get no closer. Gwinnett continued to post power play goals going 1-for-5 on the power play in the win.

Sean Fields won his second consecutive game making 33 saves in the win for the Gladiators.

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ECHL Stories from February 28, 2006


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