ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Cut Down Chiefs, 4-3

January 5, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Brad Schell sent the game to a shootout while Matt York's game winning goal in the 8th round help the Gladiators post a 4-3 shootout victory over the Johnstown Chiefs on Friday night on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett improves to 18-11-4 on the season in the win.

Johnsotown broke a scoreless tie as Andre Deveaux was able to jam the puck past Gladiators netminder Dan Turple with 4:36 left in the first period. Radek Smolenak and Adam Henrich collected the assists as they cycled the puck in the Gwinentt zone to set up the marker.

Gwinnett tied the game at one on Jon Awe's 16th goal of the season, as he ripped a one timer past Chiefs netminder Morgan Cey from the right wing point. Brad Schell and Scott Mifsud hooked up to pick the assists on the power play goal at 5:57 into the second period.

Radek Smolenak regained the lead for the Chiefs at the 15:13 mark as he slipped past the Gladiators defense into the slot and deflected the puck past Turple for the marker. Grant Jacobson and Geoff Waugh collected the assists on the go-ahead goal for the Chiefs late in the second period.

Chad Painchaud equalized the contest at two with his 9th goal of the season as he was able to beat Cey with a snapshot for the marker. Matt York and Andy Contois hooked up to pick up the assists, as Painchaud finished a 2-on-1 break with Contois for the tally 3:43 into the third period.

Johnstown regained the lead at the 8:12 mark of the third period as Deveaux collected his second goal of the game by rolling the puck over the line as Turple couldn't reach back behind himself to grab the loose puck. Smolenak and P.J. Atherton had the assists on the Chiefs third goal.

Brad Schell's 15th goal of the season tied the game at three with just 1:48 remaining in the third period as he ripped a slapshot past Cey from the right wing face off circle. Mifsud and Awe again collected the assists on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

A scoreless overtime pushed the game to a shootout, where York was able to post the game winner for Gwinnett in the 8th round. Colton Fretter gave Gwinnett a 1-0 lead in the shootout in round 2, but Johnstown answered with a 3rd round goal by Smolenak pushing the shootout to sudden death rounds.

Gwinnett finished 2-for-4 on the power play while Dan Turple recorded his 8th win of the season, making 31 saves in the win for the Gladiators.

The American Conference Champion Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season on the road as they travel to Pensacola to take on the Ice Pilots on Saturday, January 6th at 8:05 p.m. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators play all 36 home games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

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ECHL Stories from January 5, 2007


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