ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Drop 4-1 Decision to Florida

January 24, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Gladiators netmdiner Joe Fallon made a career-best 42 saves but it wasn't enough to help Gwinnett past the Florida Everblades in a 4-1 loss on Saturday night at the Germain Arena. Gwinnett falls to 17-18-4 on the season with the loss but remains in fourth place in the ECHL's South Division

After being held off the scoreboard until the third period the night before, Florida posted a pair of first period goals and took a 2-0 lead on the Gladiators to the first intermission.

Mark Lee opened the scoring 11:53 into the first period by ripping a shot from just inside the blue line past Gwinnett netminder Joe Fallon for the maker. Ernie Hartlieb collected an assist on the goal as he fed Lee at the point for the marker.

Peter Metcalf extended the Everblades lead to 2-0 with a power play goal late in the period. Metcalf was able to rip a shot past Fallon from the right wing circle for the goal. Ryan Lang and Lee notched the assists on the goal for the Everblades on the power play.

Ross Carlson pushed the Everblades lead to 3-0 at 6:10 of the second period beating Fallon over the shoulder for the marker. Ryan McGinnis collected the assist on the goal for Florida.

Andy Brandt got the Gladiators on the board at 13:28 of the second period on the power play. Brandt picked up a loose puck in the left wing circle and ripped the puck past Everblades netminder David Leggio for the tally. Dirk Southern and Josh Engel collected the assists on the power play goal for Gwinnett.

Kevin Baker added another marker for Florida in the third. Walking into the slot with Gwinnett defensemen draped over his back, Baker slipped the puck past Fallon with 3:08 left in the thrid period for the marker. Ryan Lang notched an assist on the goal for the Everblades.

Gwinnett was outshot in the loss by a 46-21 margin, the most shots allowed so far this season while the 21 shots collected in the contest was the fewest for Gwinnett this year. Both teams posted a goal on the man advantage in the contest.

The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season on the road Tuesday, January 27th at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the South Carolina Stingrays at the North Charleston Coliseum.

Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier 'AA' Hockey League has grown into a coast-to-coast league that will have 21 teams in 16 states and British Columbia playing 864 games from Oct. 17, 2008 to Apr. 4, 2009. Eighteen of the 23 teams have played at least five years in their current city.

The third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League, the ECHL averaged 4,174 per game last season, marking the fourth year in row and the 16th time in the last 18 years that the league has averaged over 4,000 fans. The league has drawn over four million fans each of the last five years and 11 times in the past 12 seasons.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - season ticket packages are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 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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ECHL Stories from January 24, 2009


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