ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Glads Playoff Push Ends with 4-3 Loss

March 27, 2011 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


DULUTH, GA - The Gwinnett Gladiators were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, falling to the Reading Royals 4-3.

The Glads (30-32-7) now have three games remaining in the season, and have dropped seven of their last nine. Chris Blight had a hat trick for the Royals, and Matt Dalton stopped 41 of 44 shots.

It was Blight who opened up the scoring for the Royals (42-22-5) with his 21st goal of the season on the powerplay at the 11:08 mark.

Gwinnett responded just 2:16 later when forward Dustin Cameron potted a rebound to make it 1-1 with Matt Francis adding the assist. Cameron finished the night with two goals and an assist, and has six goals in his last five games.

The score stayed tied at one after twenty minutes, with the Glads out-shooting Reading 19-7.

At the 5:15 mark in the second period Yannick Riendeau scored off a fluke rebound off the skate of Gwinnett forward Pat Galivan to give Reading the 2-1 advantage.

After several point blank chances for Gwinnett, Andy Brandt finally found the back of the net at the 8:28 mark to tie the score at two. Cameron added the assist on Brandt's 20th goal.

The Royals regained their lead 4:04 later when Blight scored his second tally of the night to make it 3-2.

Blight tacked on another marker just 3:30 into the final period to increase the Royals lead to two.

Cameron added his second of the night at the 8:56 mark to bring Gwinnett within one. Francis and Michael Forney had the helpers, but this was as close as the Glads could get.

Despite outshooting Reading 44-23 Gwinnett fell short by a score of 4-3.

Gwinnett next heads to Greenville on Thursday, March 31st to face the Road Warriors at 7:05 pm. They have one home game remaining this season on Friday, April 1st against Greenville.

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