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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Gwinnett Skates past \'Blades, 5-2

December 31, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


Guillaume Desbiens and Scott Kelman each picked up two assists to help the Gladiators past the Florida Everblades 5-2 on Saturday night at the Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. With the win, the Gladiators extend their winning streak to a season best five consecutive games. Florida jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a goal by Nick Vukovic 4:55 into the first period. His slapshot from the left point found its way through traffic and past Gladiators netminder Sean Fields for the tally. Phil Aucoin and Sean Stefanski picked up the assists on the marker. Milan Gajic answered for the Gladiators halfway through the first period. Walking down the right wing on a breakaway, Gajic beat Florida netminder Craig Kowalski over the shoulder with a snapshot from the right wing circle for his second goal of the season. Gajic's tally came unassisted at the 10:08 mark of the opening period. Gwinnett took a 2-1 lead just 39 seconds later on a goal by Jimmy Sharrow. Stepping into the play, Sharrow slid past a pair of Everblades defenseman and beat Kowalski over the shoulder for the goal. Brad Schell and Guillaume Desbiens added the assists on the tally moving the puck up the ice and feeding Sharrow to set up the marker. Florida tied the game at two 13:12 into the opening period. Sean Stefanaski slid past the Gladiators defense and took an outlet pass from Bogdan Rudenko and beat Fields with a quick snapshot to the short side for the goal. Derek Nesbitt regained the lead for Gwinnett with just four seconds left in the first period ripping another puck over the shoulder of Kowalski. Gajic worked down the right wing before one-handing the puck into the slot to a waiting Nesbitt to set up the tally. Scott Kelman also had an assist on the goal for the Gladiators. Steve Slaton pushed the Gladiators lead to 4-2 with his 8th goal of the season on the power play 1:45 into the second period. Finding a loose puck along the goal line off a shot from Soctt Mifsud, Slaton jammed the puck past Kowalski for the tally. Kelman also had a helper on the goal for Gwinnett. Jeff Campbell rounded out the scoring picking up Gwinnett's fifth goal beating Kowalski on a breakaway 5:14 in to the third period. Desbiens and Troy Milam picked up the assists on the goal to give the Gladiators a 5-2 lead. Sean Fields finished with 33 saves in the win as the Gladiators improved to 18-6-4 on the season. Gwinnett went 1-for-9 on the man advantage in the win as they were outshot by the Everblades 35-31 in the contest.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road as they battle the Ice Pilots in Pensacola on Friday, January 6th at 8:05 p.m. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com. The Gladiators play all 36 home games at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.

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