ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Fall to Florida in Overtime 3-2

Published on January 31, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


An overtime goal by Kevin Baker for the Florida Everblades ruined a two goal comeback Saturday night by the Gwinnett Gladiators in front of 6,256 fans at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Florida, leading the league with 64 points, beat the Gladiators for the 8th time this season, tonight by a score of 3-2.

The Everblades jumped out to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period. Andrew Fournier picked up a loose puck that the Gladiators weren't able to clear out of the zone. The forward fired a shot from the right wing faceoff circle over netminder Joe Fallon and hit the far corner for the early lead. The goal was his first of the season.

Before the first goal could even announced, Ryan Lang hit the back of the net :48 seconds later, when a bouncing puck found Lang open in the slot. Patrick Bordeleau and Ernie Hartlieb assisted on Lang's 15th of the season.

Playing in only his second game with the team, winger Tom Zanoski brought the score to 2-1 at 16:05 of the first period. Adam Berti carried the puck down the left wing boards and threw a pass to a streaking Zanoski on the right side, who put it past goalie Anton Khudobin. The goal was Zanoski's second of the season, and first with Gwinnett.

After failing to convert on two power plays to start the second period, Gwinnett scored the tying goal 10:57 into the stanza. Captain Jeff Mason connected on a two line pass to Pat Bateman, who left the Florida defense in his wake and shot the puck through Khudobin's five-hole to make the score 2-2.

The third period was scoreless, and 2:07 into overtime, Gwinnett was called for a slash, giving the Everblades the 4-on-3 advantage. Peter Metcalf fired a shot from the point that was blocked. Danick Bouchard grabbed the puck, and hit Kevin Baker on the left doorstep for the game winning goal. The goal was Baker's 36th of the season, tying him for the league lead, and was his 11th against the Gladiators.

Florida's league-leading power play unit was held in check until the game winning goal, going 1-for-8 in the game. Gwinnett was 0-for-9 with the man advantage.

With the win, Florida improves to 31-9-1-1, while Gwinnett falls to 18-19-1-4.

Gwinnett goalie Joe Fallon tallied 37 saves in the losing effort.

The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season on the road as they travel to Mississippi to take on the Sea Wolves on Wednesday, February 4th at 8:05 p.m. at the Mississippi Coast 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 31, 2009


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