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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

December 7, 2009 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Leader: Tom Zanoski leads all Gladiators skaters and is tied for fourth in the league in points with 26.

Special Teams: The Gladiators own the best power play unit in the American Conference, scoring 25 times in 112 man-advantages (22.3%). The Gladiators also own the best road penalty killing unit in the conference, killing off 41 out of 46 (89.1%) opposition power plays away from home.

Basement: The Gladiators remain in last place in the South Division with 25 points through 20 games, tied with Charlotte for the fewest games played in the league. South Carolina leads the division with 36 points through 26 games, the most games played in the league.

Road Warriors: The Gladiators remain unbeaten on the road in regulation with a 6-0-2-0 record.

Improvement: The Gladiators are one point ahead of where they were at this point last season, when they owned a 10-6-0-4 record through 20 games.

Holding the lead: The Gladiators are 8-0-2-1 when scoring first and 7-0-1-0 when leading after two periods.

Approaching: Forward Brad Schell, who has 246 assists as a Gladiator, is just 4 helpers shy of becoming only the 2nd player in Gwinnett/Mobile history to reach 250 and 7 shy of the Gladiators/Mobile all-time record of 253 held by Jason Elders, who played with Mobile from 1995-2002.

Power: Forward Scott Mifsud currently sits tied for 7th with David Creievich, who played with Mobile from 1995-2000, in Mobile/Gwinnett history with 22 power play goals and needs just four more to move into a tie for 6th with Jim Jackson (2003-2009) and Jeff Campbell (2004-2008).

Last Week's Games: December 2, Gwinnett 5, Charlotte 2 - W The Gladiators had goals from five different players, including Dan Sullivan's power play goal in the third period, and Sam Roberts had two assists and the Gladiators knocked off the Checkers 5-2 in the teams' second straight game in Charlotte and fourth straight against each other. Gwinnett jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals from Jason Lawrence and Denny and never looked back. Drew Paris notched the Gladiators' first short-handed goal of the season on an empty net with 14 seconds remaining. Taylor finished with 36 saves for his fifth win.

December 4, South Carolina 3, Gwinnett 1 - L

The South Carolina Stingrays stifled the Gladiators' offense, allowing few opportunities in a neutral zone heavy contest. South Carolina got on the board first with Matt Scherer's sixth of the season at 6:28 of the first, but the Gladiators evened the score with an Adam Berti power play goal five minutes later. A scoreless second period led to a tight third period, but it was the Stingrays who took advantage of a Gwinnett penalty and scored the go ahead goal on the power play 11:54 of the final period off Nikita Kashirsky's stick. Keith Johnson added an empty net goal with 11 seconds remaining to seal the victory. Todd earned the win for the Stingrays, and Danny Taylor suffered his fourth loss.

December 6, Gwinnett 4, Charlotte 2 - W

Mike Bayrack scored his first two goals of the season in the third period, and Matt Siddall contributed three assists, and the Gwinnett Gladiators toppled the Charlotte Checkers 4-2. Gwinnett broke the scoreless tie in the second period when Chad Denny's shot from the right circle trickled through Charlotte goaltender Frank Doyle. The Checkers answered back with a power play goal in the second, but had three third period goals, including Matt Francis' first pro goal to seal the South Division win. David brown made 40 saves in his second win.

This Week's Games: Wednesday, December 9th vs. Trenton Devils - 7:05 p.m. - WDUN.com Friday, December 11th @ Wheeling Nailers - 7:35 p.m. - WDUN.com Saturday, December 12th @ Johnstown Chiefs - 7:05 p.m. - WDUN.com Sunday, December 13th @ Wheeling Nailers - 3:05 p.m. - WDUN.com

The Gladiators wrap up a three-game home stand on Wednesday when they host the East Division's Trenton Devils for the first time since a 5-4 win over them on March 7th of last season before hitting the road for their only match up of the season against the Johnstown Chiefs on Saturday night between Friday night and Sunday afternoon games at the Wheeling Nailers. The Gladiators face the Chiefs for just the third time ever and the first time in two seasons and will wrap up the four-game season series with the Nailers after going 1-1 against them in the season's opening weekend.

The Gladiators continue their 7th season in the ECHL on Wednesday, December 9th vs. Trenton at 7:05 p.m. The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and Columbus Blue Jackets and play all home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.

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ECHL Stories from December 7, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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