IceGators Outlast Gladiators 3-1
March 27, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Louisiana IceGators News Release
Lafayette, LA - Derek Gustafson was almost perfect in goal tonight as the Louisiana IceGators hosted the Gwinnett Gladiators in their first of two games at the Cajundome this weekend. The IceGators are 47-20-2 with 96 points in the ECHL standings. They now have a seven-point lead over the idle Mississippi Sea Wolves.
The IceGators took to the ice without some key players as Ben Storey, Ed McGrane and Frederic Cloutier were all called up to the Houston Aeros today. They join Maxime Fortunus and Kevin Mitchell, who were already with the AHL affiliate.
The Gladiators got on the board first when Kris Goodjohn centered the puck from behind the net and it ricocheted off Milt Mastad's skate. The puck flew past a surprised Derek Gustafson at the 6:02 mark.
Kenny Corupe evened things up with a power play goal at 13:36. The Gators kept up the pressure in the Gwinnett end and it paid off when Alex Materukhin shot the puck across Michael Garnett's crease to a waiting Semir Ben-Amor. Garnett coughed up Ben-Amor's shot and Corupe pounced on it. The top-shelf wrister beat Garnett stick-side.
The second period was scoreless as both goaltenders stopped all attempts to light the lamp. The Gators pummeled Garnett with 19 shots in the middle frame, while Gustafson staved off 12 shots.
Alex Materukhin tallied the go-ahead goal at the midpoint of the third stanza. With the Gators on the penalty kill, Gustafson cleared the puck up to Bruce Richardson. Richardson sprang Materukhin across the neutral zone. Materukhin streaked toward Garnett and faked the netminder into dropping out of position. Materukhin lifted the puck over a sprawling Garnett for his 27th goal.
With less than a minute left on the clock and an open net in the Gwinnett end, Bobby Brown sprang Konstantin Kalmikov who beat a Gladiator defender for the empty net goal to cap the victory.
The Gladiators will return to the Frozen Swamp tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. Sunday's game is the last day of Fan Appreciation Weekend at the Cajundome. The IceGators are giving away prizes and memorabilia during the game.
ECHL Stories from March 27, 2004
- Steelheads drop home finale to Gulls, 3-1 - Idaho Steelheads
- Checkers bow 3-1 in regular season home finale - Charlotte Checkers
- Gulls Edge Steelheads, 3-1 - San Diego Gulls
- IceGators Outlast Gladiators 3-1 - Louisiana IceGators
- Gladiators Bitten By IceGators, 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Rivermen Win in Commanding Fashion 8-2 over Dayton at Home - Peoria Rivermen
- Chiefs Down Trenton 6-4 - Johnstown Chiefs
- Bullies Edge Storm In Overtime 1-0 - Atlantic City Boardwalk Bullies
- Goaltender Valley Called to Hartford - Peoria Rivermen
- Trio recalled from IceGators - Louisiana IceGators
- ECHL Transactions - ECHL
- Bilotto Loaned To Grand Rapids - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Today In The ECHL - ECHL
- Sunday Features Key Games In Kelly Cup Playoffs Race - ECHL
- Sea Wolves Announce Southern Miss Night - Mississippi Sea Wolves
- Wildcatters Dumped by Gladiators 8-0 - Texas Wildcatters
- Ice Dogs fall to Condors, 3-2 - Long Beach Ice Dogs
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