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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Score Four Straight for 5-3 Win

February 1, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Down 2-1 midway through the game, the Gladiators (15-23-2-1) buckled down and scored four straight goals against the Evansville IceMen (12-26-4-2) to cruise on to a 5-3 win on Saturday night. Brenden Walker had a goal and two assists, while Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Geoff Paukovich had a goal and an assist each. Kent Patterson bolstered the defense with 40 saves in his crease.

The Gladiators took a 1-0 lead on Geoff Paukovich's backhand shot to the right of Chris Driedger at 14:23 of the first. Brenden Walker was skating to his left, and left the puck to the far post for Paukovich. For the veteran forward it was his first goal since December 21st, his 49th career professional goal and 99th ECHL point.

40 seconds later, Evansville countered with a goal by Daniel Johnston. As the IceMen were rushing the zone, Kent Patterson made a save to his left, and before he could counter right, Johnston picked up the bounce and got it under the Gwinnett goaltender.

The IceMen continued their momentum in the second period, taking their only lead of the night at 3:09 of the period on Thomas Frazee's 14th of the year from Robin Soudek and Brandon Martell.

On Friday night, the Gladiators were 0-for-10 on the power play, their most extra man opportunities of the season. On Saturday night, the Gladiators momentum was sparked by the power play. At 12:43, Will MacDonald tipped Joe Stejskal's shot from the top of the zone by Driedger for his seventh of the season.

A minute-and-a-half after that, Casey Pierro-Zabotel extended his point streak to six games with his 19th goal of the season. Walker took the initial shot on the left post, distracting Driedger as the puck caromed out to the low slot. Pierro-Zabotel stepped up to scoop in the rebound and give Gwinnett a lead they would never relinquish.

Just 15 seconds into the third period, Brenden Walker rushed into the offensive zone on the right wing side, and blistered a shot by Driedger with his wrist shot. It was Gwinnett's earliest goal to start a period this season. The Gladiators would cap off the scoring at 1:32 with Nathan Burns' shot that sunk underneath Driedger, assisted by Paukovich and Dyson Stevenson.

The IceMen would tack on a garbage-time goal at 14:23 from Jim McKenzie, but the Gladiators would take the win on 30 shots, compared to Evansville's 43.

Kent Patterson made 40 saves in net, while Chris Driedger had 25. Gwinnett was 1-for-4 on the power play, and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.

Gwinnett's next home game will be on Tuesday, February 3rd at 7:05 p.m. for Student Night against the Orlando Solar Bears. 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.

As Atlanta's "One and Only" professional hockey team, the Gladiators have established an extraordinary winning tradition and unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment. The Gladiators are consistently ranked as one of the top "Things To Do" in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region.

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