ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators fall to Steelheads, 5-3

April 27, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Dan Ellis made 35 saves and Idaho jumped out to a 4-1 lead early in the second period, a lead they would not relinquish in a 5-3 victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators in Game #1 of the Western Conference Final on Tuesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. With the win, Idaho takes a 1 game to none series lead.

Idaho took a 1-0 lead 37 seconds into the contest as Brett Draney took an outlet pass in the neutral zone from Dylan Gyori and slipped past the Gladiators defense to pick up the goal. David Bararuk also picked up an assist on the goal.

Rick Emmett's fourth power play goal of the post season tied the game at one. Cam Brown slid the puck to Emmett where the defenseman jammed the puck past Idaho goaltender Dan Ellis. Kevin Doell picked up a helper on the goal at 6:31 of the opening period.

Idaho regained the advantage, a lead they would not relinquish, on the power play when Bararuk buried a shot that just skipped in over the goal line. Draney and Gyori added the assists on the extra man goal at 12:26 of the opening period.

Ben Keup pushed the Steelheads lead to two goals before the end of the first period when he picked up a loose puck along the goal line and jammed it past Garnett. Dan Vandermeer also added an assist on the tally at 16:18 if the period.

In the second period, the Gladiators and the Steelheads exchanged goals with Idaho jumping out to a 4-1 lead. Zenon Konopka snapped a shot past Garnett 3:24 into the second period. Darrell Hay added an assist on the tally for Idaho.

Cam Brown cut the Idaho lead to two goals when he picked up a loose puck in neutral zone and beat Dan Ellis through the five-hole on a break away. The play was created in the Idaho end as Brown was late getting back up the ice as his stick was knocked out of his hands and the Gladiators captain was getting a new piece of lumber when the puck squired to Brown in the neutral zone and the veteran was able to tally the unassisted goal at 5:32 of the second period.

Gwinnett drew within a goal 73 seconds into the third period as Chris Durno, behind the goal line, threw the puck off of Ellis and into the net for the tally. Kris Goodjohn added an assist on the goal.

Idaho put the contest out of reach with a power play goal by Lance Galbraith at 12:40 of the third period as the Steelheads went on the man advantage on a call that upset Gladiators head coach Jeff Pyle. Dan Vandermeer and Konopka added the assists on the goal for Idaho.

Michael Garnett made 22 saves in the loss for the Gladiators while Dan Ellis turned aside 35 shots for the Idaho win and the 1 game to none series lead.

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