ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall to Aces 5-4 in OT

January 30, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators moved into sole possession of first place in the ECHL's American Conference but posted a 5-4 overtime loss to the Alaska Aces on Tuesday night on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett. The Gladiators fall to 25-13-5 on the season in the loss with 55 points, one ahead of the second place Texas Wildcatters.

Andy Contois got the Gladiators on the board first as he collected a rebound in the slot and flipped the puck over Alaska netminder Chris Beckford-Tseu, who was sprawled in the slot after making the initial save, for the goal. Chad Painchaud and Mike Vigilante had the assists on goal posted just 57 seconds into the first period.

The Gladiators took a 2-0 lead with a power play goal by Mike Vigilante at the 13:07 mark of the first period. Finding a loose puck in the slot, Vigilante was able to jam the puck past Beckford-Tseu for the marker. Jon Awe and Colton Fretter had the assists on the goal for the Gladiators.

In the second period, Alaska posted three straight goals to take a 3-2 lead before the Gladiators tied the game at three late in the second period. Kimbi Daniels got the Aces within a goal at the 2:40 mark of the second period. Parked in the slot, Daniels beat Gladiators netminder Dan Turple with a snapshot for the power play goal. Barrett Heisten and Peter Metcalfe collected the assists on the goal for the Aces.

Stephen Wood tied the game at two as he ripped a slapshot past Turple from the left wing point on the power play at the 8:54 mark of the second period. Mike Scott and Julian Talbot had the assists as they set up Wood on the goal.

Scott then gave the Aces a 3-2 lead as he completed an odd man rush ripping a slapshot from the right wing circle past Turple for the goal. Wood collected an assist on the goal for Alaska moving the puck up the win to Scott to set up the goal at the 12:12 mark of the second period.

Jon Sitko's first goal as a Gladiator tied the game at three. A lazy shot thrown to the front of the net by Sitko eluded Beckford-Tseu for the goal. Chad Painchaud and Vigilante collected the assists on the goal for the Gladiators at the 16:13 mark of the second period.

The teams exchanged goals in the third period with Gwinnett jumping out to a 4-3 lead on the Aces at the 5:53 mark of the third period. Jackson slid through the slot and picked up a loose puck and stuffed it home to give the Gladiators the lead. Fretter and Schell hooked up to pick up the assists on the power play goal for the Gladiators.

Wood collected his second goal of the season as he ripped a snapshot over the shoulder of Truple at the 15:29 mark of the third period on the power play. Olivier Filion and Joe Talbot posted the assists on the power play goal that tied the game at four.

Vladimir Novak posted the game winner just 52 seconds into the overtime as he slid past a Gladiators defenseman and ripped a snapshot past Turple from point blank range in the slot. Metcalfe and Later had the assists on the game-winning goal for the Aces.

Gwinnett finished the contest 2-7 on the power play while Turple made 35 saves in the overtime loss. The loss also snapped Turple's winning streak at seven games.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on February 2nd as they host the South Carolina Stingrays on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Season tickets 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 on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice 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 30, 2007


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