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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Stuffed in OT, 3-2

November 27, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


DULUTH, Ga. - In the team's 12th annual Thanksgiving night home game on Thursday night, the Gladiators (6-8-0-1), took the 3-2 overtime loss to the South Carolina Stingrays (5-9-0-4), in just their second extra session of the season. Anthony Perdicaro came away with a goal and an assist in the game, and Garry Nunn tallied his 13th assist of the year.

Both teams came out hungry Thanksgiving night and the bad blood between the two rivals became apparent almost immediately in the first period. The Gladiators were able to capitalize on a violent play, after Garry Nunn dished off the puck to Anthony Perdicaro just before being taken to the ground at the left point. Perdicaro ripped a shot from out in the left faceoff circle, past an unsuspecting Jeff Jakaitis at 5:30.

The second period began with the Stingrays evening the score at 1:24, when Braden Pimm found some space to slide the puck in past Mark Guggenberger during a skirmish in front of the goal. The Gladiators broke up the tie at 11:49 after Perdicaro won the faceoff in the "˜Rays' defensive end and immediately directed the puck over to Nathan Burns, who slapped a shot into the net from the top of the slot.

About three-and-a-half minutes into the third period, it appeared as though the Gladiators padded their lead with a power play goal from Dyson Stevenson, but the play was immediately disallowed by referee Jeremy Tufts. The official decided that Stevenson punched the puck in the net with his glove, and he stuck with his ruling in a play that ultimately proved to be crucial in the final outcome.

Most of the action in the third was tilted in the Gladiators zone as they tried to defend their scant 2-1 lead. In front of a packed net, Brandon Hynes somehow found enough space to tie the game with just under five minutes remaining in the period. The Gladiators could not counter with a goal in the third period, and the teams entered free hockey after sixty minutes of play.

Only 1:02 of overtime was needed as Wayne Simpson gathered a turnover from just outside of Mark Guggenberger's crease, dangled around the netminder, and fired a shot, top-shelf to end the game.

Guggenberger stopped 30 of the 33 shots he faced, while Jeff Jakaitis stopped 20 of the 22 Gladiators' shots for his first win of the season.

The Gladiators will travel to South Carolina this Saturday to play the "˜Rays on their home ice at 3:05pm. The Gladiators will return to The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Saturday, December 13th to ring in the holidays with Sing for Santa weekend, starting against the Cincinnati Cyclones at 7:05pm.

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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