ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall 4-3 To Blades

Published on March 4, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gladiators embarked on the first of three games in three nights all against the Florida Everblades on Thursday night in Estero, Florida. The Gladiators rallied from a one goal deficit to take a 3-1 lead into the third period, but Florida outscored Gwinnett 3-0 in the third to take a 4-3 victory on home ice.

The Everblades got on the board first with a goal at the 9:12 mark of the first period. After the Gladiators took their second straight penalty of the contest, Florida made use of their second power play. Ernie Hartlieb dropped a puck off on the left point to Dominic Osman, who quickly fired a pass to Matt Duffy on the right circle. Duffy placed a shot between the legs of a sliding Danny Taylor, and the puck just trickled into the goal to put the Everblades up 1-0.

The Gladiators were able to strike back just before the end of the first period. Gwinnett forced a turnover and Scott Mifsud led an offensive rush into the Florida zone. Mifsud dropped the puck off to Matt Francis who fired a shot through traffic. Chris Beckford-Tsu made the initial save, but Francis slammed home his own rebound tow even the score at one goal apiece.

The second period has traditionally been a struggle for the Gladiators this season, but Gwinnett was able to take their first lead of the contest just 47 seconds into the period. Matt Francis and Tim Miller teamed up to dig a puck free behind the Everblades net, and Miller tapped the puck to Dan Sullivan. Sullivan squeezed a shot just past Beckford-Tsu to put the Gladiators up 2-1.

Gwinnett would increase their lead at the 12:17 mark of the period. Tom Zanoski wrapped a puck behind the Florida net, and Adam Berti stepped out next to the left post. Berti quickly fired a pass to Mike McLean who one-timed a shot on the backhand and gave the Gladiators a 3-1 advantage.

The Everblades wasted no time in the third period as Shea Guthrie tipped a shot from Phil Paquet past Danny Taylor to cut the Gladiators lead to just one goal. Paquet received a pass from Milan Gajic before blasting a shot through traffic. Guthrie's deflection goal was scored just 46 seconds into the third period.

Florida would strike again to tie the game 13 minutes later on a long blast from the top of the slot by Mathieu Roy. Roy's blast hit Taylor on the way to the net, but had just enough power to trickle past the Gwinnett goaltender and into the net. The goal tied the game at 3-3.

Florida would complete their comeback at the 17:02 mark after a mad scramble in front of the Gladiator's net. Gajic picked up his second point of the night when he notched the game-winning goal, rifling a shot past a sprawling Danny Taylor.

The Gladiators were 0-4 on the Applebees power play and the Everblades finished 1-5 with the man-advantage. The Gladiators fall to 26-25-4-2 and Florida improved to 31-19-4-5 with the win.

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ECHL Stories from March 4, 2010


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