ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on March 27, 2006 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


On to the Playoffs! The Gladiators clinched a first round bye in the Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 6-3 win over Pensacola on Friday coupled with a Greenville loss to Charlotte. The Gladiators will open the best-of-five second round series at home on Saturday, April 15th and Sunday, April 16th. Gwinnett is three points shy of clinching the South Division title and those three points would also wrap up the American Conference Title.

Just Shy of 20: Scott Mifsud posted his 19th goal of the year in Sunday's 4-3 loss to South Carolina and now needs just one goal to become the sixth Gladiator this season to post 20 goals on the year. Mifsud would join Guillaume Desbiens (32), Jeff Campbell (30), Brad Schell (23), Derek Nesbitt (26) and Milan Gajic (23) at 20 or more goals this season. The ECHL record for most 20 goal scorers in a season is 9 set by Columbus (OH) during ‘96-'97 season.

A True Power Play! The Gladiators continued their dominance on the power play this week scoring three or more power play goals in three of four games. Gwinnett has posted a least one power play goal in each of their last 11 games and have posted 3-or-more power play goals in 12 games this season. Gwinnett continues to rank first in the ECHL on the man advantage and the Gladiators 106 power play goals is 9 shy of tying the ECHL record for most power play goals in a season. The current ECHL record for most power play goals in one season is 115 held by the Nashville Knights during the 1995-96 season.

Looking for a Record: Guillaume Desbiens notched two goals in Wednesday's 8-1 win over Charlotte to move just one goal shy of tying the Gladiators team record for most goals in a season. It was Desbiens' 31st and 32nd goals of the season leaving him one goal shy of Kevin Doell's mark of 33 set during the Gladiators inaugural 2003-04 season. The franchise record for most goals in a season is 45 set by Mark Turner with the Mobile Mysticks during the 1999-2000 season.

A Stetson, toque & hat! Derek Nesbitt collected three goals in the Gladiators 5-2 win on Saturday night over the Pensacola Ice Pilots. For Nesbitt, it was his first professional hat trick and his third multiple goal game of the year. Nesbitt becomes the eighth Gladiator this season to record a hat trick.

Goals Galore: The Gladiators set a new season record for goals in a game with Wednesday's eight goal output against the Charlotte Checkers. It surpassed Gwinnett's previous season high of seven goals which the Gladiators scored five times this season. The eight goals also tied a Gladiators team record for most goals in a game set during Gwinnett's Inaugural 2003-04 season in an 8-0 win over the Texas Wildcatters on March 26th and matched twice last year. The franchise record for most goals in a game is 12 posted by the Mobile Mysticks in a 12-5 win over the Huntington Blizzard on February 4th during the 1996-97 season.

Last Week's Games:

March 22nd, Gladiators 8, Charlotte 1 - W

Gwinnett got goals from seven different scorers in the win as Guillaume Desbiens was the Gladiators only multiple goal scorer. The Gladiators had five of the eight goals on the power play tying a team season high for power play goals in a game while the Gladiators eight goal output also set a season high for goals in a game. Gwinnett led 6-0 after two periods as the Checkers scored their lone goal in the third period. The Gladiators also got goals from Scott Mifsud, Matt York, Lane Manson, Jon Awe and Brian Teixeira while Jeff Campbell posted his 30th goal of the season in the win. Sean Fields made 35 saves in the victory for Gwinnett.

March 24th, Gladiators 6, Pensacola 3 - W

The Gladiators jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first period off of two goals by Rick Emmett and a tally by Jeff Dwyer. Pensacola scored first in the second period before Jon Awe and Cam Brown pushed the Gladiators to a 5-1 lead. Derek Nesbitt picked up the Gladiators last goal in the third period in between Pensacola's two final period tallies. The Gladiators finished with three power play goals in the win. Scott Mifsud had three assists and Joel Stepp and Brad Schell each posted a pair of assists in the win for Gwinnett. For Schell, he pushed his point scoring streak to 12 games with the pair of assists.

March 25th, Gladiators 5, Pensacola 2 - W

Derek Nesbitt recorded a hat trick to lead the Gladiators past the Ice Pilots for the second consecutive night. Jon Awe finished with three assists in the win for Gwinnett. Pensacola jumped out to a 2-0 lead before the Gladiators tied the game at two on goals by Nesbitt and Joel Stepp. Nesbitt added his second of the night in the second to give Gwinnett a 3-2 lead and his third gave the Gladiators a 4-2 lead in the third. Jeff Dwyer rounded out the scoring with less than a minute remaining in the contest. Gwinnett posted three goals on the power play for the third consecutive game. Adam Berkhoel won his second straight game against the Ice Pilots making 31 saves in the victory.

March 26th, South Carolina 4 - Gladiators 3 - L

South Carolina jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on the Gladiators and cruised to a 4-3 win over Gwinnett. Scott Mifsud posted a power play goal for the Gladiators in the loss early in second period to cut the South Carolina lead to 2-1 but the Stingrays scored the next two goals to take a commanding 4-1 lead in the third. Milan Gajic had a pair of goals for Gwinnett 60 seconds apart in the third period but Gwinnett could get no closer. Sean Fields posted 28 saves in the loss, just Gwinnett's 3rd loss of the year at home this season.

This Week's Games:

Thursday, March 30th @ Augusta Lynx, 7:30 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Friday, March 31st, @ Augusta Lynx, 7:30 p.m. - WDUN, News Talk 550

Gwinnett is 3-3-1 this season against the Lynx with all three regulation losses coming in Augusta. Gwinnett is still looking for its first win in Augusta this season. Guillaume Desbiens, Milan Gajic and Jeff Campbell have each posted 7 points against Augusta this season while Augusta's top guy has been Nicholas Corbeil with 8 points against the Gladiators.

Saturday, April 1st, @ South Carolina Stingrays, 7:05 p.m. - wdun.com

Following Sunday's loss against the Stingrays, Gwinnett is now 4-3-0 against South Carolina this season. Gwinnett won the only meeting tied after three in overtime by a 4-3 score on March 12th as the two teams have combined to post an 0-15 record in the shootout this season. Jeff Campbell has 11 points against the Stingrays while Brad Schell has posted 10 points for Gwinnett as Ryan Finnerty's 8 points leads the Stingrays against the Gladiators.

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ECHL Stories from March 27, 2006


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