ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gladiators Win Second Straight, Beat Stingrays 3-1

February 24, 2007 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Jamie Milam and Mike Vigilante each finished with two assists to help the Gladiators past the South Carolina Stingrays 3-1 on Saturday night on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. With the win, the Gladiators improve to 31-17-6 on the season.

Blue Bennefield posted his 12th goal of the season 71 seconds into the contest to give the Gladiators a 1-0 lead on the Stingrays. Bennefield beat South Carolina netminder Darren Machesney off a centering feed from Joel Stepp. Chad Painchaud worked the puck into the Stingrays zone, as he was able to hit Stepp walking down the left wing to set up the goal.

South Carolina tied the game up at the 1:54 mark with a shorthanded goal. Stephen Werner was able to finish a 2-on-1 break for the marker for South Carolina. Brendan Bernakevich had the assist on the marker setting up Werner on the goal.

Gwinnett got the lead back on Painchaud's 18th goal of the season. Painchaud took a pass in the left wing circle from Mike Vigilante and circled into the high slot before beating Machesney for the tally. Jamie Milam also had an assist on the goal pushing the puck into the South Carolina zone before dishing the puck off to Vigilante.

Andy Contois pushed the Gladiators lead to 3-1 as he collected his 16th goal of the season with just 3:48 left in the second period. Contois ripped a snapshot past Machesney for the goal. Mike Vigilante picked up an assist as he fed Contois in the slot for the assist for the Gladiators.

Gwinnett buckled down defensively with the teams skating to a scoreless third period as Caruso finished with 31 saves for the win. Gwinnett chased Machensey late in the third period in favor of Davis Parley but the netminding change could not spark the Stingrays in the loss. Gwinnett finished 1-for-5 on the power play in the win.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season as a proud member of the ECHL on February 25th as they host the Pensacola Ice Pilots on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 4:05 p.m. Season tickets are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.

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ECHL Stories from February 24, 2007


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