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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Grab a Point in Estero

February 25, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


ESTERO, Fla. - In their final game at Germain Arena in the 2014-15 season, the Gladiators outplayed the Florida Everblades for the majority of the game, but it was Florida that picked up the W on Wednesday, 3-2 in the shootout. Casey Pierro-Zabotel notched his team-leading 22nd goal of the season, and Brenden Walker had a goal and an assist.

The Everblades came bursting out of the gate to start action, registering the first four shots on net in the game's opening minutes. On the fourth shot, Jesse Graham scored his first ECHL goal by crashing into Mark Guggenberger at 2:53 on the power play. Just before the two collided to Guggenberger's left, the puck squirted underneath Guggenberger and in.

Gwinnett played the remainder of the first period well, taking a 9-to-8 shots advantage to the break, but Florida would extend their lead in the second. Brant Harris tapped in a one-timer on a pass from Jordan Henry through the crease. Harris' goal at 7:17 made it 2-0 Florida, but the Gladiators would chomp back after that.

At 12:58, Brenden Walker slapped a shot on Iles from the top of the zone. Casey Pierro-Zabotel grabbed the puck from out in front, dangled a forehand-backhand combination, and then lifted the puck easily on the backhand over the sprawling Iles to cut the deficit to one.

Over a minute later, the first line would strike again, this time with Walker finishing the play. Garry Nunn started the play with an impressive forecheck steal at the top of the zone and drew the frantic Everblades defense to the left circle. He then threaded a pass across the zone to Walker, who was left unguarded. Walker held on to the puck as he entered the low slot, and then wristed the tog drag shot underneath the crossbar at 14:39.

Following a scoreless third, the game would reach overtime, Gwinnett's second in a week, but not before a heart attack before the buzzer. Steven Whitney pulled a steal off the stick of newest Gladiator Patrick McEachen, and was off to the races on a breakaway with five seconds left. Mark Guggenberger aggressively challenged out of his crease and made his most important save of the night, robbing Whitney at the left post as the clock expired.

Neither side scored in the overtime, even with a full two-minute, 4-on-3 power play for Gwinnett. In the shootout, the Gladiators' second of the year, Florida swept the first three rounds, with Mike Marquardt, Alex Lavoie, and Mitch Wahl all scoring on their chances, and Iles stoning Walker, Pierro-Zabotel, and Will MacDonald.

In the end, Gwinnett outshot Florida 32-30, with Mark Guggenberger making 27 saves to Andy Iles' 30. The Gladiators were 0-for-7 on the power play, and the second-ranked Everblades' power play only scored once on five opportunities.

The Gladiators will now head from the Gulf Coast of Florida to the Atlantic Coast to take on the Orlando Solar Bears for the first time at the Amway Center this season. Their first game will be at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 27th. The game will be broadcast on www.gwinnettgladiators.com/radio and WDUN.com, stream 3, starting at 7:45 p.m.

Gwinnett will return to The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Saturday, March 7th for $5 Frenzy Night - Mesh Replica Jerseys against the South Carolina Stingrays.

For tickets and schedule information, visit the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league, and are affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 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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