ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Defeat Storm, 3-2, Win Conference Title

Published on May 16, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Scott Mifsud ripped a slapshot over the shoulder of Toledo netminder Logan Koopmans just 2:57 into overtime to clinch the 2006 American Conference title for the Gwinnett Gladiators. Gwinnett advances to the Kelly Cup Finals for the first time in team history with the win as they clinch the American Conference Finals series 4 games to 1 over the Toledo Storm.

Gwinnett opened up a 2-0 lead on the Storm with goals 79 seconds apart in the first period. Milan Gajic got the first goal for the Gladiators at the 4:39 mark of the opening period. A Toledo defenseman misplayed the puck at the Gladiators blue line and Gajic corralled the puck and beat Storm netminder Logan Koopmans on a breakaway for the unassisted goal.

Derek Nesbitt's 4th goal of the post season pushed the Gwinnett lead to two goals. He picked up his own rebound along the goal line and flipped the puck past an outstretched Koopmans for the tally. Rick Emmett had an assist on the marker finding Nesbitt in the corner to set up the goal. Nesbitt's tally came on a delayed penalty call against the Storm at the 5:58 mark of the first period.

Toledo stormed back in the second period with a pair of goals to tie the game at two. Matt Zultek found a loose puck along the goal line and flipped the puck past Gladiators netminder Sean Fields for the marker. Mike Knight and Todd Jackson had the assists on the power play goal for Storm.

Jason Maleyko evened the game at two at with 2:26 left in the second period. Maleyko found a loose puck in the high slot and slid by a Gladiators defenseman and flipped the puck past Fields for the goal. Chris Blight and Robert Snowball had the assists on the goal for the Storm.

Both teams had chances in the final period but Fields and Koopmans kept the contest deadlocked at two as the game headed into overtime. Toledo outshot the Gladiators in the third period by an 11-7 margin in the third period.

Gajic set up the game-winning goal for the Gladiators at the 2:57 mark of overtime he dropped the puck off for Mifsud walking in over the Toledo blue line. The game winner by Mifsud was his third of the playoffs for Gwinnett.

Sean Fields finished with 30 saves for the Gladiators as he collected his fifth win of the playoffs for Gwinnett.

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ECHL Stories from May 16, 2006


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