ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on January 18, 2010 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Key Returners: Forwards Matt Caruana and Patrick Galivan have rejoined the team after their respective call-ups. Galivan missed just two games while skating in one with Chicago of the AHL, and Caruana missed 20 while skating with Portland.

Called Up: Forward Tom Zanoski was only back from his call up to the AHL's Binghamton Senators for two days and one game before being called up to Albany on Friday. Danny Taylor is currently in his third stint with Gladiators' AHL affiliate Syarcuse.

Leaders: Forwards Adam Berti (9 goals, 25 assists) and Patrick Galivan (18 goals, 16 assists) lead the team with 34 points apiece.

Streakers: Forwards Aaron Brocklehurst (2-4-6), Chris Higgins (4-2-6), and Matt Siddall (5-3-8) are each on 5-game point streaks..

Special Teams: The Gladiators own the top-ranked power play unit in the American Conference and second best in the league, scoring 42 times in 191 man-advantages (22%). The Gladiators own the best road power play percentage in the league, going 25 for 89 (28.1%) away from home. Additionally, the Gladiators boast the second best penalty killing unit in the league on road ice, killing off 85 of 97 (87.6%) opposition man-advantages.

Home Win Streak: The Gladiators won consecutive home games for the first time all season after defeating South Carolina 6-5 in overtime on January 9th and then beating Charlotte 4-3 in a shootout on Saturday. The Gladiators have not won a home game in regulation since a 4-2 victory over Charlotte on December 6th.

Extra Time: Lead the league with 13 overtime games played and 21 points earned in those games.

Stingy: The Gladiators are 10-0 when holding opponents to less than three goals.

Basement: The Gladiators remain in last place in the South Division with 41 points through 37 games, the second fewest games played in the league.

Sin Bin: Forward Dan Sullivan is just 10 penalty minutes shy of 1,000 career penalty minutes since making his pro debut with the AHL's Lowell Lock Monsters in 2002.

Lighting the Lamp: Forward Scott Mifsud has moved into 4th place in all time goals by a Gladiator with 55. He is just 15 short of Mike Viginante, who played with the Gladiators from 2003 until 2008 and has 70 and currently sits in third place.

Last Week's Games:

January 13, Charlotte 9, Gwinnett 4 - L

The Gladiators took a 3-2 lead entering the second period on Chris Higgins' first professional goal and markers from Matt Siddall and Tom Zanoski. But Charlotte would score twice in the first eight minutes of the second period to take 4-3 lead. Chris Higgins then scored his second goal of the game and his pro career midway through the second, but that was all the scoring Gwinnett have. The Checkers scored five unanswered goals through the second and third periods to clobber the Gladiators 9-4. Both teams finished 1-3 on the power play, and Charlotte goaltender Miika Wiikman made 26 saves for the win.

January 16, Gwinnett 4, Charlotte 3 - W (SO)

The Checkers had leads of 2-0 in the first period and 3-1 in the second, but Patrick Galivan's second shorthanded marker of the season with eight seconds remaining in the second period and Chris Higgins' third goal in three games in the third period sent the game into overtime. After a scoreless extra period, Matt Francis scored on a backhander in the seventh round of the shootout to give the Gladiators consecutive home victories for the first time all season. All three Gladiators goals came on special teams with two on the power play and one shorthanded. David Brown made 26 saves for his sixth win of the season.

January 17, South Carolina 5, Gwinnett 4 - OTL

The Gladiators fell behind 2-0 again, but had four consecutive goals from Matt Caruana, Jason Lawrence, Chris Higgins, and Matt Siddall to take a 4-2 lead with less than five minutes left in regulation. But Trevor Bruess scored his third of the game just 1:25 before Michael Dubuc scored at 17:16 of the third to tie the game and send it into overtime. Rob Ricci scored 2:02 into the extra frame to complete the comeback and hand the Gladiators their third overtime loss of the year. Gwinnett's David Brown made a game-high 41 saves, while South Carolina net minder Parker Van Buskirk made 22 for the win.

This Week's Games:

Monday, January 18th vs. Charlotte Checkers - 12:30 p.m. - WDUN.com

Friday, January 22nd @ Florida Everblades - 7:30 p.m. - WDUN.com

Saturday, January 18th @ Florida Everblades - 7:30 p.m. - WDUN.com

The Gladiators play their second straight 12:30 p.m. game against the Charlotte Checkers at home on Monday afternoon before embarking on a season-high six game road trip that takes them from Southwest Florida to play the Florida Everblades before traveling North the following week to take on East Division opponents Reading Royals and Elmira Jackals.

The Gladiators continue their 7th season in the ECHL on Monday, January 18th vs. Charlotte at 12:30 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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