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ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Stingrays Edge Gladiators 4-3

April 2, 2010 - ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


After finding themselves down three to the South Carolina Stingrays in the third period, the Gwinnett Gladiators notched three of their own goals in 12 minutes to forge a tie, swinging momentum in their favor, as a heated contest between the South Division rivals headed toward extra time for the sixth occasion between the teams this season. But a defensive breakdown with less than three minutes remaining in regulation doomed the home team, as Trent Campbell notched a second goal in the contest to hand the Gladiators their fourth straight loss and fifth in the last six games.

Mike McLean kicked off the rally for the Gladiators 1:41 into the third period, scoring on the power play for the third time on the season. Pat Galivan hit an open McLean with a pass on the backdoor, and the forward buried a one-time shot past South Carolina goaltender Shane Connelly, cutting the Stingray lead to 3-1.

Dan Sullivan then cut the Stingray lead to just one with a laser shot from just inside the South Carolina zone. Sean Hurley carried the puck up the left wing and across the blue line and floated a pass into the middle of the slot, which Dan Sullivan one-timed over Connelly's left shoulder at 10:33 of the third.

Scott Mifsud brought the 4,021-strong Friday night audience to their feet at 13:39 of the third, tying the game at three and completing the Gwinnett rally, as he roofed a put-back attempt off a Pat Galivan shot from the left faceoff circle.

But Trent Campbell notched his second marker of the contest with less than three minutes remaining in regulation, restoring the Stingrays' lead after heavy pressure in the Gladiators' zone. Campbell found himself open in the slot, took a pass from Rob Ricci, and wristed a shot over Gwinnett goaltender David Brown's glove for the 4-3 advantage.

Campbell's go-ahead marker made the difference, as the Stingrays held off heavy pressure from Gwinnett in the waning minutes of the game

The Stingrays took a 1-0 lead 13 seconds into the contest, slightly less than half of the time it took for them to light the lamp in the teams'; previous meeting on Wednesday night. Trent Campbell took a pass from Nikita Kashirski off the opening faceoff and skated past all five Gladiator skaters to move in on an uncontested breakaway on Gwinnett goaltender David Brown. Campbell had the puck roll off his stick as he neared the crease, but the puck got past past Brown and into the back of the net.

Gregg Johnson made it 2-0 at 14:14 of the second period, just 35 seconds before Nikita Kashirski added to that lead with his 19th of the season for the 3-0 margin heading into the second intermission.

A total of 61 penalty minutes were handed out in the contest, including 32 to South Carolina's Nikita Kashirski, who was assessed two match penalties, a fighting major, and an elbowing minor.

Gwinnett finished 1-for-7 with the man-advantage, while holding the Stingrays scoreless on four power play attempts.

The Gladiators fall under .500 on the season for the first time, now owning a 31-32-5-3 record, while South Carolina improves to 40-19-6-6. Shane Connelly made 32 saves for the victory, while Gwinnett's David Brown finished with 29 saves in his fourth-straight loss.

The Gladiators and Stingrays wrap up their regular seasons with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop at the Arena at Gwinnett Center Saturday night.

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