ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Sink Walleye

Published on February 27, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


With two very important points on the line in Toledo on Saturday night, the Gladiators came storming out of the gate to jump out to a 5 goal lead early in the second period. The Walleye were able to gather themselves in front of a large home crowd, but the Gladiators took the 6-4 win over the Walleye at the Lucas County Arena.

The Gladiators were able to strike first in the contest, just a couple of minutes after killing off the first power play of the game. Tom Zanoski and Adam Berti cycled the puck into the leftwing corner in the offensive end, and Berti was able to work free with the puck. Berti centered a puck to Zanoski, who lifted a shot on the backhand over Jordan Pearce, and gave Gwinnett a 2-0 lead.

The Gladiators would strike again at the 14:50 mark as Matt Francis increased the lead for the Gladiators. Just after an Applebees power play expired for Gwinnett, Mike McLean moved a puck to Francis on the left half-boards. Francis fired a wrister that snuck between the legs of Pearce. Nick St. Pierre also assisted on the play.

Michael Forney would find the net next in the period for Gwinnett as the Gladiators converted on a 5-on-3 advantage. Francis settled a puck down in the right corner and moved a pass quickly up to St. Pierre. St. Pierre immediately fired a pass in to Forney on the left post, and Forney tipped to pass into the empty net putting the Gladiators up 3-0 at the end of the period.

The Gladiators increased their lead to 4-0 just 39 seconds into the second period. Tim Miller picked a pass from Matt Francis out of mid-air and carried the puck in to the attacking zone. Miller wound up a slip shot from about the left circle and fired a shot over the glove of Pearce and into the back of the net. The goal chased Pearce from the net as Alec Richards took over for the Walleye.

Jason Lawrence was the next Gladiator to strike in the contest. The Walleye had been applying strong pressure to the Gladiators, but Sam Roberts found Lawrence on a long pass through the neutral zone sending him on a breakaway. Lawrence fired a snap shot by the left post to give Gwinnett a 5-0 lead.

The Walleye came right back with a goal of their own at the 5:11 mark. Former Gladiator Chris Zarb pulled a pass out of the air, and blasted a shot past Danny Taylor. Sal Peralta and Evan Rankin received assists on the play.

J.C. Sawyer would put the next puck home to bring the score to 5-2 in favor of Gwinnett. A shot from Joe Charlebois was deflected in front of Taylor and carried over the crossbar. The rebound came right back in front of the net and Sawyer swatted it behind Taylor. The period would end with the Gladiators carrying the 5-2 advantage.

Toledo struck early on in the third period. With just two seconds left on a power play chance, Scooter Smith attempted a pass across the crease in front of the Gladiators net. The pass bounced off the skate of Adam Berti and into the back of the net.

Forney would add his second power play goal of the contest at the 7:40 mark to restore a 3 goal advantage to Gwinnett. Miller and St. Pierri picked up assists, as a beautiful passing play allowed Forney to fire a shot past Richards and put the Gladiators up 6-3.

Scooter Smith would add a final goal on a shot from the left point that bounced of Taylor and into the net. The Gladiators were 2-6 on the Applebees power play while Toledo went 1-5 . The Gladiators improve to 26-24-4-2 and Toledo 29-24-1-3.

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ECHL Stories from February 27, 2010


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