ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall in Shootout, 3-2

February 18, 2006 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators lost 3-2 to the Florida Everblades on Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in a shootout. Gwinnett remains winless in the shootout this season, dropping their sixth in the loss to the Everblades as Kevin Bergin's third round goal proved to be the game winner.

Derek Nesbitt's 21st goal of the season with 4:41 of the third period pushed the game into overtime and eventually a shootout to tie the game at two. Cam Brown dug the puck free in the corner, slid behind the net before feeding a streaking Nesbitt flying into the slot to set up the tally. Matt York also collected an assist on the goal scored with 4:41 left in the third period.

Gwinnett opened the scoring in the first and took a 1-0 lead on Scott Kelman's 14th goal of the season 5:24 into the opening period. Kelman found a loose puck in the slot and jammed it past Florida netminder Kevin Nastiuk. Scott Mifsud hooked up with Milan Gajic to move the puck around the Florida zone to set up the goal.

Florida tied the game at one with a slapshot off the stick of Dustin Johner that beat Gwinnett netminder Adam Berkhoel 12:50 into the first period. Johner took a drop pass from Steve Saviano to set up the marker. Anders Strome also had an assist on the goal.

In the second, the defensive struggle continued as neither team was able to get on the board. Florida broke through and took the early lead in third an a breakaway goal by Steve Saviano at the 9:26 mark of the final stanza. Martin Lojek found Saviano behind the Gladiators defense to spring the forward on the breakaway and pick up an assist on the goal.

Adam Berkhoel made 41 saves but it wasn't enough to help the Gladiators past the Everblades as Gwinnett falls to 34-11-6 on the season. Gwinnett, which entered the game with the top ranked power play in the ECHL, was kept off the scoreboard for the second straight night going 0-for-6 on the man advantage.

Gwinnett remains in the top spot in the ECHL's South Division as the picked up a point in the shootout loss while the Everblades now sit 9 points back of the Gladiators in the division.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road as they travel to Florida to take on the Everblades on Friday, February 24th at 7:30 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 gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators play all 36 home games 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 February 18, 2006


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