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Laplante stops 43 in 4-3 win

March 19, 2004 - ECHL (ECHL)
Myrtle Beach Thunderboltz News Release


DULUTH, GA - The Florence Pride improved to 5-1-1 in their last seven games with a 4-3 win over the Gwinnett Gladiators Friday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

A face-off win just over five minutes into the first period allowed Florence to take a 1-0 lead. Allan Sirois won a draw in the left-wing circle of the Gwinnett zone to Matt Reid on the hash marks. Reid used some nifty stickwork to get free and his shot beat Trevor Prior low to the stick side for his eighth goal of the season.

The Pride went up 2-0 at the 17:46 mark of the first. Just as the Gladiaors went on a power-play after a four-on-four situation, Wes Goldie made a great individual effort for the shorthanded tally. After being knocked to his knees, Goldie got enough wood on the puck to knock it across the line for his 35th goal of the season.

Gwinnett pulled within one 1:12 into the second period. Sebastien Laplante made the initial save, but the rebound came free to Kris Goodjohn on the left-wing side, and he beat the Pride goaltender for his 16th goal of the year.

Just 24 seconds later, the Pride reestablished their two-goal advantage. Luke Earl took a shot from the left-wing circle, which was stopped by Prior, but the goaltender never completely covered it, and the puck trickled across the line for Earl's seventh tally of the campaign.

Florence made it a three-goal lead at the 15:03 mark of the second period. Shaun Sutter and Earl both had good scoring chances coming off of a 2-on-1 rush, but Prior made both saves. However, the puck was never covered, and Vladimir Gusev pinching in from the blue line was able to beat Prior for his fourth goal of the season.

The Gladiators scored two quick goals late in the second period to make it a one-goal game heading to the final period. At 17:46, while on a two-man advantage, Wes Swinson took a shot that hit off of the near post, but Tyler Deis was right there to tap it home for his 10th of the season.

Just 1:49 later, and with just 25 seconds left in the period, Gwinnett pulled within one when Chris Durno's shot from the right-wing dot eluded Laplante, for his 15th marker of the season.

Laplante played another strong game in net, turning aside 43 shots, including all 12 he faced in the third period.

Florence plays the second game of its four-game road trip Saturday at Columbus with face-off slated for 7:30 p.m. The Palmetto Chiropractic Pre-Game Show starts at 7:10 on WDAR Sunny 105.5 FM and www.florencepride.com. The Pride return home next Saturday, March 27, hosting the Augusta Lynx at 7:30. Tickets are available at the Florence Civic Center Box Office, or through TicketMaster at (843) 679-9333 or www.ticketmaster.com.



ECHL Stories from March 19, 2004


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