ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Weekly Update

Published on April 29, 2013 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators trail the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semifinals 3-games-to-2 to the Cincinnati Cyclones. Gwinnett dropped Games 3 & 5 to the Cyclones at the US Bank Arena while the team posted a 4-2 win in Game 4 of the series last week. Game 6 is Tuesday while Game 7, if necessary, is Wednesday.

This week's Games:

Monday, 4/29: Practice in Cincinnati - Noon

Tuesday, 4/30: Game 6 @ Cincinnati - 7:35 p.m.

Wednesday, 5/1: Game 7 @ Cincinnati - 7:35 p.m. (if necessary)

Thursday, 5/2: TBA

Friday, 5/3: TBA

Saturday, 5/4: TBA

Sunday, 5/5: TBA

Series Update: The Cincinnati Cyclones lead the best-of-seven Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series 3-games-to-2 following a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Gladiators in Game 5 on Saturday night. Cincinnati is led in scoring in the series by Trevor Lewis and David Pacan. Lewis, who has notched the game winner in overtime for Cincinnati, as well as Pacan have each notched six points off of three goals and three assists. Game 6 is Tuesday at the US Bank Arena while Game 7, if necessary, will also be at the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Due to building conflicts at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, the final five possible games of the series have been scheduled for Cincinnati. Gladiators will receive home-team privilege for Game 6 which grants the Gladiators last change and the team will be wearing their home "whites" jerseys despite the game being played in Cincinnati.

Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:

#3 Gwinnett vs. #2 Cincinnati

Game 1: Cincinnati 3, Gwinnett 2

Game 2: Gwinnett 3, Cincinnati 0

Game 3: Cincinnati 5, Gwinnett 0

Game 4: Gwinnett 4, Cincinnati 2

Game 5: Cincinnati 3, Gwinnett 2 (2OT)

Game 6: Tuesday, April 30th @ Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.

Game 7: Wednesday, May 1st @ Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)

(Cincinnati Leads Best-of-seven series 3-games-to-2)

Last Week's Results:

Wednesday, April 24: Cincinnati 5, Gwinnett 0 - L

The Cincinnati Cyclones responded from a 3-0 loss in Game 2 with a 5-0 win over the Gladiators in Game 3. Following a scoreless first period, the Cyclones took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators early in the second period on a power play goal by John McFarland. The Cyclones added two more markers, one from Mathieu Aubin and McFarland's second of the night, before the end of the second to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Michael Pelech chased Louis Domingue 6:22 into the third while David Pacan rounded out the scoring for the Cyclones at 12:44 of the third period. Gwinnett was outshot in the contest by a 38-23 margin.

Friday, April 26: Gwinnett 4, Cincinnati 2 - W

The Gladiators answered in Game 4 with a 4-2 victory over the Cyclones. Gwinnett opened a 3-0 lead on the Cyclones early in the second on two first period goals by Domenic Monardo and Casey Pierro-Zabotel and second period marker by Doug Jones. The Cyclones got on the board just 21 seconds after Jones' goal 3:35 into the second. Evan Bloodoff had his first goal of the series for Gwinnett with 46 seconds left in the second to regain the three goal lead for Gwinnett. David Pacan added the Cyclones second goal of the game at 7:48 of the third but Cincinnati could get no closer.

Saturday, April 27: Cincinnati 3, Gwinnett 2 - 2-OTL

The Cincinnati Cyclones took a 3-games-to-2 series lead with a 3-2 double-overtime win over the Gladiators in Game 5 of the series. Trevor Lewis had the game winner for the Cyclones 12:29 into the second extra frame. Gwinnett opened the scoring on Joey Haddad's 4th goal of the post season just 2:36 into the first period. Cincinnati then took control of the first period before pounding home the tying goal off the stick of Garrett Wilson at 14:16 of the opening period. The teams exchanged goals in the second with Wilson adding his second of the night before Evan Bloodoff tied the score at two with 2:58 left in the second period. Gwinnett was outshot 16-2 in the opening period as the Cyclones more than doubled-up the Gladiators in shots with a 48-20 shots-on-goal margin. Louis Domingue finished with 45 saves for Gwinnett in the overtime loss.

News & Notes:

Stellar: Gladiators goaltender Louis Domingue has been stellar in net for the Gladiators in the post season. The rookie netminder tied a league post-season high with 45 saves in the Gladiators 3-2 double-overtime loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones on Saturday night. Domingue currently leads all rookie netminders in the post season with a 1.93 goals against average and his .936 save percentage is tops among all ECHL goaltenders in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Game 6: The Gladiators will skate in the first Game 6 in team history on Tuesday night when they battle the Cincinnati Cyclones in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The series is just the fifth all-time best-of-seven series in team history. Of the best-of-seven series the Gladiators have skated in, three series went five games and one series went four games.

Facing Elimination: The Gladiators are 4-7 all time when facing elimination and are 5-13 all time including the team's time in Mobile when facing elimination in a playoff series. In the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs, the Gladiators twice extended the series before falling in a deciding Game 5 to the South Carolina Stingrays and extended the Kelly Cup Finals in 2006 to Game 5 before falling to the Alaska Aces. The Gladiators other win when facing elimination was a deciding Game 5 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves in the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Hot Hand: Gladiators rookie forward Domenic Monardo leads the Gladiators in goals scored with three against the Cyclones in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Monardo had goals for Gladiators in both Games 1 & 2 in Gwinnett as well as in Game 4. The rookie out of Lake Superior State has notched four goals and three assists in nine Kelly Cup Playoff games with Gwinnett.

Special Teams: The Gladiators notched another power play goal in Saturday's 3-2 double overtime loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones for their ninth extra man goal of the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs. The Gladiators have converted on 23.1% of their man advantage chances in nine post season games. Gwinnett is 5-2 in the post season when scoring a power play goal and 1-1 when they do not convert on the man advantage.

Firsts! Rookie forward Doug Jones picked up his first goal of the post season April 26th in the 4-2 win over the Cyclones. Regular season leading scorer, Casey Pierro-Zabotel also picked up his first goal of the playoffs on the power play in the win over Cincinnati. In the regular season, Jones posted 50 points in 61 games and Pierro-Zabotel led the team with 75 points in 66 games.

Upcoming Events:

Kelly Cup Playoffs: The Gladiators continue the 2013 Kelly Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. 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

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



ECHL Stories from April 29, 2013


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.

OurSports Central