ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Smoke Everblades, 7-5

January 23, 2015 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


DULUTH, Ga. - The Gladiators (13-21-1-1) put on quite the show Friday night, defeating the Florida Everblades (25-7-0-3) 7-5, and for the second time in as many matchups, scored seven goals against the East Division leaders. Greg Carey got his second hat trick of the season as well as an assist, J.P. Labardo scored two goals, and Casey Pierro-Zabotel tallied three assists.

Coming into this game, the Gladiators were 0-16-0-1 in games where they trailed going into the third period, but with a third period spectacle, the home team was able to come back in a big way to win.

Trailing 3-2 entering the third, the Gladiators turned up the heat in the final frame. Carey opened the period by single-handedly tying up the game at 3:47. Carey won the puck at the center line, and outmuscled the Everblades down the ice, finally juking out the last defensemen, and placed the puck to the left of an outstretched York.

Carey was not done after his second goal, and in a similar fashion to his prior goal, he wracked up his second hat trick of the season at 6:09. After winning the puck deep in the Gladiators' defensive end, Carey raced the puck all the way to the other end of the ice, and for the third time in the game, found net.

Almost before the celebration of Carey's hat trick concluded, J.P. Labardo found himself back on the scoreboard. Walker slid the puck over to Labardo just in front of the crease, and the rookie forward placed it in backdoor at 7:17. Only a minute later, the Everblades responded with a goal at 8:13 from Adam Brace for his fifthteenth of the season.

However, the Gladiators immediately answered with yet another goal, this time from Garry Nunn, who ripped in a shot after receiving a pass from Carey at 8:43. Florida yet again, was able to bring the difference back to just one, when Evan Bloodoff found net past Kent Patterson on power play at 12:58.

The Gladiators were not done scoring even as the time dwindled down to just seconds. Florida pulled York from the net, giving them a sixth man, but also leaving an empty net. Will MacDonald sent a wild shot towards the vacant goal from deep in the Gladiators' defensive end, and the puck flew untouched down the length of the ice, straight in at 19:21, scoring the fifth goal of the third period, making it a season high for the Gladiators.

Back in the first period, the Gladiators came out red hot, suited up in their brand new home Atlanta Flames-inspired jerseys. Florida goalie, Allen York, was in front of the firing squad for most of the period, as the Gladiators posted 16 shots on goal. However, a controversial goal at 13:38 gave the Everblades the lead, when the puck crossed the goal line off a knock from Alex Lavole as the net was tipping forward off of its moorings.

The Florida goal fueled the home team's fire, and J.P. Labardo evened the score at 18:29, when he smacked a one-timer from the left faceoff circle off of a deflection from an original shot by Brenden Walker. Just thirty seconds later, the Gladiators were back in front of York, and took over the lead on a goal from Greg Carey, who found an opening amidst chaos ahead of a crowded net, on a quick shot from just outside the crease.

The Everblades did not let the Gladiators keep the lead for long, as the second period turned more in their favor. They first evened the score at just 5:48 into the period on a goal from Mike Aviani. The "˜Blades then regained their lead at 10:23 on a backhanded shot from the slot by Lavoie, for his second goal of the night and twelve of the season.

The Gladiators will continue their homestand tomorrow night, January 24th, when they once again take on the Florida Everblades at 7:05 p.m. Join the Gladiators for their first $5 Frenzy of the season, featuring team scarves that will be sold for $5 throughout this game only. Saturday is also Faith night, with a special performance by Atlanta-born worship leader, Mike Gelderman.

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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ECHL Stories from January 23, 2015


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