ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Comeback Falls Short Against Elmira

Published on January 30, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Danny Taylor stopped 3 breakaways, including a penalty shot, but it was enough as the Gladiators fell 7-5 to the Jackals on Saturday night. Gwinnett rallied from a 2-1 deficit to take a 3-3 tie into the third period, but early penalty trouble helped Elmira jump out to a 6-4 lead. The Gladiators made it close, but couldn't beat Ellis with the extra skater to force overtime.

The Gladiators jumped out to quick 1-0 lead just 1:26 into the first period. Drew Paris was able to control a loose puck just above the left circle. Paris fed a backhand shot towards the net and Jason Lawrence was able to deflect a shot between the pads of Julien Ellis for the goal. Mike McLean also picked up an assist on the marker.

The Gladiators were able to hold onto their lead for just over ten minutes before surrendering a shorthanded goal for the second straight night. Yannick Tifu poked the puck forward to Chaz Johnson from the defensive end. Johnson led a 2-on-1 rush up the ice and picked the left corner of the net past Danny Taylor to tie the game at one.

Elmira added their second goal of the contest at the 13:56 mark. Gwinnett had a few tired legs on the ice after an icing whistle, and a quick shot off the draw threw traffic found its way on goal. Taylor made the first save, but Bear Trapp won the battle for the rebound and tapped the puck home giving the Jackals their first lead of the game.

Gwinnett put together a great second period as they tied the game at two at the 2:33 mark. Michael Forney and Dan Sullivan connected on a nice give and go the found Forney wide open in front of the Jackal goal. Forney fired a shot past Ellis to tie up the game for the Gladiators.

Matt Caruana got the next goal to regain the lead for Gwinnett. Caruana received a pass from Sam Roberts and zipped down the boards on the leftwing side. Caruana toe-dragged around a few defenders and pushed a shot right past the left post and into the net.

Elmira struck back just over a minute and a half later with 2:26 left on the game clock. Keegan Danssereau deflected a pass through the neutral zone and right onto the tape of a streaking Brendan Connelly. Connelly fired a shot over the shoulder of Danny Taylor to tie the game back up at three before the end of the second period.

Gwinnett got off to a slow start in the third period as Justin Donati put Elmira up 4-3 just 29 seconds into the period. Olivier Proulx and Tyler Donati cycled the puck in the left corner, and Justin Donati tipped a pass into the back of the net.

Aaron Brocklehusrt tied the game back at four a few minutes later with a shorthanded goal while the Gladiators were on the wrong side of 5-on-3. Brocklehurst picked off a pass and jetted down the leftwing side. His initial shot was saved by Ellis, but as Ellis was trying to keep the play alive Brocklehurst batted a pass into the back of the net.

Elmira knocked home two more goals to go up 6-4.While on the power play Olivier Proulx found a puck bouncing off the back dasher and tucked it inside the left post. Shortly following that the Gladiators coughed up a puck on a breakout and Yannick Tifu found Tyler Donati for the goal.

Gwinnett struck back at the 11:08 mark when Adam Berti received a beautiful saucer pass from Scott Mifsud. Matt Caruana dropped a pass to Mifsud who found Berti, and Berti slammed it in to put Gwinnett back with one.

That was as close as Gwinnett would come. Justin Donati added his second goal of the night into an empty net with 12 seconds left to bury the Gladiators.

Danny Taylor stopped 23 shots in the loss and the Gladiators fell to 19-19-3-2. Elmira improved to 22-17-2-2 with the win.

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ECHL Stories from January 30, 2010


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