ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Roll Past Checkers, 7-4

Published on March 11, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Mike Vigilante posted two goals, including the game winner to help the Gladiators past the Charlotte Checkers 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Gwinnett improves to 35-18-7 on the season with the win.

Vigilante gave the Gladiators a 1-0 lead on the Checkers at the 4:49 mark of the first period. Vigilante corralled a rebound in the slot and flipped the puck past Charlotte netminder Chris Holt for his 21st goal of the season. Andy Contois and Blue Bennefield each had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead on Scott Mifsud's 25th goal of the season ripping a slapshot over the shoulder Holt for the marker. Brad Schell collected an assist on the power play goal moving the puck into the corner to Mifsud to set up the marker.

Charlotte cut the Gladiators lead to one goal with 2:58 left in the opening period. Nathan Gillies collected a rebound in the right wing circle and flipped the puck past Gladiators netminder Dan Turple for the marker. Jeff Lang and Daymen Rycroft collected the assists on the Checker's marker.

Dan Murphy tied the game at two just 22 seconds into the second period. Slipping past the Gladiators defense deep in the Gwinnett zone, Murphy took a pass from Mark Lee and rolled the puck past Turple for the marker. Blake Bellefeuille also had an assist on the goal for Charlotte.

Gwinnett regained the lead at the 1:11 mark of the second period as Jamie Milam ripped a slapshot over the shoulder of Holt for his 20th goal of the season. Milam's goal came on the power play play as he took a pass from Chad Painchaud to set up the marker. Joel Stepp also had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Blue Bennefield collected his 14th goal of the season at the 7:34 mark of the second period flipping the puck off the pads of Holt for the marker. Brad Schell and Paul Flache had the assists on the goal for the Gladiators to give Gwinnett a 4-2 lead.

Charlotte drew within a goal at the 10:27 mark of the second period as Murphy beat Turple for his second goal of the game. Taking advantage of an odd man rush, Murphy took a pass from Bellefeuille and ripped a shot past Turple for the marker.

Gwinnett got the two-goal lead back on Mike Vigilante's 21st goal of the season at the 13:03 mark of the second period. Deflecting the puck past a Charlotte defenseman on a penalty kill, Vigilante beat Holt on a breakaway for an unassisted shorthanded tally.

Andy Contois's 17th goal of the season gave the Gladiators a 6-3 lead on the Checkers at the 9:13 mark of the third period. Muscling down the right wing wall, Contois backhanded the puck past Holt for the marker. Bennefield collected the assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Gwinnett took a 7-3 lead on the Checkers at the 12:02 mark of the third period on a breakaway goal by Chad Painchaud. Slipping past the Charlotte defense, Painchaud walked in on Holt and beating the netminder to the far post. Flache had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Charlotte got one back to round out he scoring in the contest as Rodney added his 3rd goal of the game. The marker came at the 16:27 mark of the third period as Bellefeuille and Lee collected the assists on the goal for the Checkers.

Turple finished with 30 saves for the Gladiators in the as Gwinnett went 2-for-8 on the power play. Charlotte finished with a pair of power play goals in the game as well.

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ECHL Stories from March 11, 2007


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