ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Glads Stifled By Goepfert, Fall 3-2

Published on March 18, 2011 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


DULUTH, GA - The Gwinnett Gladiators were flying high through one period Friday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, dominating the Florida Everblades and taking a 2-0 lead into the break to open Pink in the Rink weekend.

The second period was a different story entirely. The Blades (33-27-4) scored two goals just 1:44 apart, and despite being outshot 18-4 in the third benefitted from a fluke goal off the skate of Pat Galivan to seal a 3-2 Florida win.

Bobby Goepfert stole the show for the Blades, stopping 45 of 47 shots and denying Gwinnett (29-28-7) on several point blank chances down the stretch. Chris Carrozzi made 24 saves in a losing cause.

Blades forward Alexandre Imbeault was the number-one star, scoring twice and adding an assist. He now has ten goals in nine games against the Glads this season. With the loss Gwinnett stays three points back of the eighth place Cincinnati Cyclones with a game in hand in the Eastern Conference.

It wasn't until the 18:43 mark in the first that the Glads opened the scoring with a goal from forward Andy Brandt, his 18th of the season. Dustin Cameron picked up the assist as Brandt beat Goepfert on the rebound opportunity.

Just 21 seconds later Matt Francis added an unassisted goal for a 2-0 Gwinnett lead. Francis won the faceoff, split two defenseman and buried a rocket wrister past Goepfert to give Gwinnett a big advantage through 20 minutes.

It wouldn't last. The Everblades cut the lead in half at the 9:32 mark in the second period on a powerplay goal from Bobby Raymond to make it 2-1. Only 1:44 later the Blades drew even when Imbeault potted a rebound for his 32nd goal of the season

On both goals the Gladiators failed to get the puck out of their own end despite receiving several chances to do so. The score stayed tied at two through two periods.

Imbeault would strike again at the 15:47 mark in the third period to give the Everblades their first lead of the night. Carrozzi stopped Imbeault on a breakaway, but the rebound went off the skate of Gwinnett forward Pat Galivan and into the net to silence the 5,087 fans in attendance.

Gwinnett went 0-for-6 on the powerplay while Florida went 1-for-4. The Glads outshot the Blades 47-27.

Gwinnett is back at home Saturday night in a rematch with Florida at 7:05 pm.

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ECHL Stories from March 18, 2011


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