ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Edged in South Carolina, 4-3

March 15, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - The Gladiators (17-39-3-2) closed out their 16-game season series with the South Carolina Stingrays (37-18-1-6) with their most competitive game in weeks, but ultimately fell by a 4-3 margin on Sunday afternoon. Will MacDonald led the way with two goals, while Mike Lee made an impressive 45 saves.

Joe Devin opened the scoring at 12:27 of the first on a power play rebound shot from the left circle. Despite that goal, the two teams played a close opening frame; South Carolina dominated the first 13 minutes with 13 shots in that time. Gwinnett responded with five shots in the last seven minutes.

1:47 into the second period, the Stingrays extended their lead with a goal from Tim Spencer that slid underneath Mike Lee. From there, Gwinnett rebounded back with their first goals of the weekend.

Will MacDonald put the Gladiators on the board at 4:33 with a power play goal from the right circle. Feeding off of that momentum, Tyler Murovich scored his first goal in his return stint to Gwinnett at 7:04. The Gladiators alternate captain threw a puck towards SC goaltender Jeff Wyer from behind the goal line in the right corner. As Wyer was backtracking to center himself in the crease, he brought the puck with him and kicked it in.

About 1:15 later, the Stingrays took back the lead with Joe Devin's power play goal at 8:20, his third game with a tally this weekend. But the Gladiators would answer one more time. C.J. Chartrain threaded a pass from behind Wyer to the low slot, and MacDonald one-timed it to the back of the net for his second of the afternoon at 12:50.

The Stingrays broke the 3-3 deadlock at 1:47 of the third period with Brett Cameron's first professional goal, and the score would remain 4-3 through the remainder of the game.

South Carolina outshot Gwinnett 49-to-26 over the course of the afternoon. Jeff Wyer picked up his first professional win, going 23-for-26 in net, while Mike Lee received the loss for his 45-save effort.

The Gladiators will next head onto Orlando for the start of a three-game stay at the Amway Center, beginning on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on WDUN.com and www.gwinnettgladiators.com/radio, starting at 6:45 p.m. Gwinnett's next home game will be on March 27th at 7:35 p.m. as they host Orlando for Friendly Friday.

For tickets and schedule information, visit the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league, and are affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 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 March 15, 2015


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