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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Win First Game of the Season, Top Florida 5-3

October 16, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


ESTERO, FL - The Gladiators picked up their first win of the season Saturday night, dominating the second period en route to a 5-3 win over the Florida Everblades.

Gwinnett (1-0-1) carried a 2-1 lead into the second, and 14:51 in added to the lead on a Dan Kissel powerplay goal. The forward, who joined the team in a trade with Bakersfield during training camp, beat Blades goalie Bobby Goepfert five-hole on a wraparound try for a 3-1 edge.

Gwinnett finished 2-for-6 on the powerplay and through two games are a combined 3-for-10.

Late in the period Ryan Garbutt capitalized on a Florida (1-1-0) turnover at their own blueline, fighting off a defenseman while cutting to the low slot and slipping the puck by Goepfert for a 4-1 lead.

Garbutt finished his first game of the season and first as a Gladiator with a goal and two assists.

The Glads outshot Florida 18-9 in the second, and 35-28 total on the night.

Aaron Bendickson early in the third scored his second goal of the season by making a magnificent individual effort. The rookie out of Wisconsin drove to the middle shorthanded, and after losing the puck regained control in the Blades corner. He then deked around two Florida players, took a shot, and followed through slapping home the rebound to push the Gladiators lead to 5-1.

Florida added two goals late in the third, but it was too little too late.

Billy Sauer earned his first win of the season in his first start, stopping 25 of 28 shots.

Gwinnett opened the scoring 7:54 into the first period, after Andy Brandt hammered home a fantastic cross-ice feed from Matt Francis on the powerplay for Brandt's second goal on the man-advantage in as many days.

Tim Miller put the Gladiators up 2-0 13:24 into the first as he stepped out of the penalty box, snuck behind the defense, took an outlet pass for a breakaway and beat Goepfert blocker side.

Florida answered at the 14:07 mark, as Francis Lemieux beat goalie Billy Sauer from behind a screen with a wrist shot from the blue line to bring the Blades within one. That was as close as they would get.

The Gladiators 2010-2011 home opener is Friday, October 22nd at 7:35 p.m, against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers 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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