ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

April 18, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


In the Lead! The Gladiators knocked off the Mississippi Sea Wolves with a convincing 8-1 win in Game #3 on Saturday night to take a 2 games to 1 series lead in the best-of-five American Conference Quarterfinal Series. Gwinnett looks to wrap up the series Monday night in Game #4 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

Three in a Row! Forward Brad Schell holds the Gladiators longest point-scoring streak during the playoffs. The rookie has picked up at least one point in each of the Gladiators first three playoff games. Schell's longest point scoring streak of the regular season was six consecutive games with at least a point from March 27th to April 8th. Four times during the regular season Schell recorded a point in at least 3 consecutive games.

More Shots: The Gladiators were again just short of tying an ECHL record for shots in a game. Gwinnett recorded 64 shots in Saturday's 8-1 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves, just one shot shy of tying the league record for shots in a playoff game that ends in regulation. The Peoria Rivermen hold the record with 65 shots against Wheeling on April 2, 1997 in a playoff game ending in regulation while Gwinnett's 64 shots now ranks second. The Louisiana IceGators hold the record for most shots in a playoff game with 85 in a double overtime game against the Pensacola Ice Pilots on April 14, 2004.

A Team High! The Gladiators equaled their regular season high for goals in a game with Saturday's 8-goal output against the Mississippi Sea Wolves. Gwinnett posted 8 goals twice during the regular season. Last season during the post season, Gwinnett's largest goal output was 6 goals, which occurred twice, once in the first round in a 6-3 win against Mississippi and once in the second round in a 6-5 double overtime win against Louisiana. Gwinnett's 7-goal winning margin also tied a season high.

On a Tear! Rookie forward Mike Stathopoulos leads the Gladiators in goals scored with 3 during the post season. Stathopoulos has recorded both of the game winning goals for Gwinnettt in the first two games of the series. In addition, the Scarborough, Ontario native has also picked up 2 assists while it is the second time this season Stathopoulos has recorded 5 points in 3 games for the Gladiators this season. The rookie had 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points in 3 games from March 12th thru March 15th.

On the Plus Side: As a team, the Gladiators are currently a +34 during the playoffs. Every player on the roster is even or better in plus/minus ranking with the Gladiators while Mike Stathopoulos' +6 is tops with Gwinnett.

Between the Pipes: Adam Berkhoel ranks 3rd in goaltending in the ECHL during the post season appearing in 2 games with the Gladiators. Berkhoel turned aside 26 shots in a 5-1 win in Game #1 and made 16 saves in an 8-1 win in Game #2. Berkhoel has posted a 1.00 goals against average and a .955 save percentage for the Gladiators in the post season.

On the Power Play: The Gladiators have posted at least one power play goal in all three playoff games this post season. Gwinnett went 1-for-5 on the man advantage in a 5-1 Game #1 win against Mississippi. In Game #2, the Gladiators scored both goals in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Sea Wolves on the power play while they netted two man advantage tallies in Saturday's 8-1 win over Mississippi in Game #3.

Playoff Ticket Now on Sale! Don't miss any of the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoff Action by getting your playoff tickets now. Playoff ticket packages are available by calling the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 or online at www.gwinnettgladiators.com. Individual playoff game tickets are now on sale and are available at area ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at 404-509-8166, online at www.ticketmaster.com and at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Box Office.

Last Week's Games: 2-1

April 13th, Gladiators 5, Mississippi 1 – W

Mississippi opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal midway through the first period but Brad Schell evened the contest with 33 seconds left in the first period. Mike Stathopoulos scored the game winner half way through the second period while Joe Bourne added a power play goal at the 19:27 mark of the second period. Gwinnett took a 4-1 lead 20 seconds into the third period on a goal by Cam Brown. Brad Schell rounded out the scoring for the Gladiators 2:26 later. Adam Berkhoel made 26 saves to pick up the game 1 win and take a 1-0 series lead over the Sea Wolves.

April 15th, Mississippi 3, Gladiators 2 – OTL

Rick Emmett scored the game's first goal and his first goal of the post season on the power play 2:56 into the first period before the Sea Wolves tied the game up at 1-1 before the end of the opening stanza. Chris Durno scored the only goal of the second period with just 1:13 left in the middle stanza. Mississippi again tied the game up, this time with a goal 33 seconds into the 3rd period and the Sea Wolves Jay Legault ended the contest 3:22 into overtime to tie the best of five series at a game apiece.

April 16th, Gladiators 8, Mississippi 1 – W

Gwinnett took a 2 games to 1 series lead on the Sea Wolves with the win in Game #3 of the American Conference Quarterfinal match up. Mike Stathopoulos scored twice for Gwinnett in the second period as his first goal of the contest proved to be the game winner. Jeff Campbell's first goal of the post season opened the scoring in the first period while Adam Smyth scored between Stathopoulos' tallies in the second period. Mississippi scored at 19:59 of the second period but Gwinnett answered with 4 goals in the final stanza. Chris Durno scored 1:05 into the final period, Kris Goodjohn had his first of the post season on the power play between a pair of Kevin Doell tallied. Doell's first at 4:11 of the third while his second game with 1:15 left in the contest. Adam Berkhoel saw fewer than 20 shots making 16 saves in the win while Gwinnett went 2-for-10 on the power play for the second straight night. Campbell and Durno each finished with 2 assists while Brad Schell now has an assist in each of the Gladiators 3 playoff games.

This Week's Games:

Monday, April 18th, Game #4 vs. Mississippi, 7:05 p.m. , wdun.com

Tuesday, April 19th, Game #5 (if necessary) vs. Mississippi 7:05 p.m., wdun.com

The Gladiators have dominated the Sea Wolves on home ice in the series with Game #4 on Monday and Game #5, if necessary, on Tuesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Gladiators have outscored the Sea Wolves by a combined 13-2 in the first two games of the series at the Gwinnett Center and have picked up at least one power play goal in all three games. Mississippi held the advantage during the regular season with two shut out wins and a 5-1-1 record against the Gladiators.

This Week's Practice Schedule:

Practices at the IceForum in Duluth are open to the general public. Arena at Gwinnett Center practices are not open to the general public. Media members wishing to attend practice at the Arena should contact the Gladiators PR staff at 770-497-5106.

Monday: Game #4 vs. Mississippi

Tuesday: Game #5 (if necessary) vs. Mississippi

Wednesday: TBD

Thursday: TBD

Friday: TBD

Saturday: TBD

Sunday: TBD

The Central Division Champion Gwinnett Gladiators continue their second season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center in the Kelly Cup Playoffs on Monday, April 18th against the Mississippi Sea Wolves at 7:05 p.m. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators play all 36 home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

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ECHL Stories from April 18, 2005


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