ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on April 8, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators started Round 1 of the Kelly Cup Playoffs with two wins at the Arena at Gwinnett Center against the South Carolina Stingrays last week. Gwinnett now leads the series two games to none over the Stingrays. Games 3 and 4 as well as Game 5, if necessary, will be in Charleston, SC before the series shifts back to the Arena at Gwinnett Center for a possible Game 6 & 7, if necessary.

First Round Playoff Schedule:

vs. #6 South Carolina

Game 1: Gwinnett 5, South Carolina 0

Game 2: Gwinnett 3, South Carolina 2

Game 3: Wednesday, April 10th @ South Carolina - 7:05 p.m.

Game 4: Friday, April 12th @ South Carolina - 7:05 p.m.

Game 5: Saturday, April 13th @ South Carolina - 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Game 6: Tuesday, April 16th @ Gwinnett - 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Game 7: Wednesday, April 17th @ Gwinnett - 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

(Gwinnett Leads Best of Seven Series 2-game-to-0)

This week's Games:

Monday, 4/8: Practice @10:30 a.m. at the Gwinnett Arena

Tuesday, 4/9: Practice @ 10:30 a.m. at the Gwinnett Arena

Wednesday, 4/10: Game 3 @South Carolina - @ 7:05 p.m.

South Carolina Preview: The Gladiators face the South Carolina Stingrays for the fifth time in post season play with South Carolina having won three of the previous four match ups. South Carolina has scored just two goals combined in the first two games of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Stingrays are led by forward Chris Langkow who has two points and goaltender Ryan Zapolski has notched a 4.01 GAA and a 0.884 save percentage.

Thursday, 4/11: Practice in South Carolina - TBA

Friday, 4/12: Game 4 @ South Carolina - @ 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, 4/13: Game 5 @ South Carolina - @ 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Sunday, 4/14: OFF

Last Week's Results:

Friday, April 5: Gwinnett 5, South Carolina 0- W

The Gwinnett Gladiators used two goals by Tyler Murovich and 24 saves from goaltender Louis Domingue to shutout the South Carolina Stingrays 5-0 in Game 1 of the ECHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on a goal by Joey Haddad which proved to be the game-winner. Domenic Monardo had his first goal since he joined Gwinnett on March 22nd.

Saturday, April 6: Gwinnett 3, South Carolina 2-W

Joey Haddad broke a 2-2 tie with 16 seconds left in the third period to lift the Gwinnett Gladiators to a 3-2 win over the South Carolina Stingrays in Game 2 of the ECHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Gwinnett now leads the best-of-seven series 2-games-to-0. The game winning goal was Haddad's second consecutive in the series. Ryan Ginand added a goal and an assist for Gwinnett in the win.

News & Notes:

Shutout: Louis Domingue made 24 saves for the third shutout in Gladiators playoff history. The Gladiators have now earned a 2-1 record in the game following a shutout and a 2-0 record in Game 2 following a Game 1 shutout. Gwinnett has never notched back-to-back shutouts in the playoffs but it is the second time the Gladiators have earned a Game 1 shutout and a shutout in the Gladiators first playoff game of the post season. Gwinnett blanked Charlotte 4-0 in Game 1 of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Game 1 & Game 2: The Gladiators have hosted the first two games of a playoff series seven times in team history. Gwinnett has now won both Game 1 and Game 2 of a series three times in eight tries. Both of the previous two series before this season where Gwinnett won Game 1 and Game 2 ended in a sweep for the Gladiators. It previously happened once against South Carolina in the 2006 Kelly Cup Playoffs and again against the Charlotte Checkers in the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Gwinnett has never won both Game 1 & 2 of a series to eventually lose the series.

A First: The Gladiators signed forward Domenic Monardo out of Lake Superior State University on March 22nd. The rookie skated in three regular season games with Gwinnett. He earned his first professional goal in Friday night's 5-0 win over the Stingrays. He has earned one goal in five games since he joined Gwinnett.

Haddad With the Winner: Joey Haddad scored both game-winning goals in both of the Gladiators post-season games this season. He scored his first post-season goal 10:47 into the first period on April 5th and it stood as the game winner in the Gladiators 5-0 shutout over the Stingrays. He also had the game-winner with only 16 seconds left in the third period on April 6th in a 3-2 win over South Carolina. Over the past two playoff seasons, Haddad is the only Gladiator with a game-winning goal as he notched the game-winner in the Gladiators only win, a 3-2 win in Game 2, in last season's Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Game 3 is the Key: Game 3 has been a very telling game in Gladiators post-season history. The Gladiators have appeared in 14 Kelly Cup Playoff Series and the winner of Game 3 of a series has eventually gone on to win the series in all but one playoff series. Trailing 2-games-to-0, Gwinnett won Game 3 of the 2009 Kelly Cup Playoffs with a 2-1 overtime win over Florida, but the Everblades won the next two games to take the series.

Upcoming Events:

Kelly Cup Playoffs: The Gladiators continue the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. Playoff Tickets are now available with two different ticket packages to choose from to reserve your playoffs tickets. Choose either the Gladiators "Pay as we Play" or three game "Playoff Strips" to catch all the action. Get all the details online at www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

Check out the Atlanta Gladiators Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 8, 2013


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