Stingrays Nip Gladiators 3-1
Published on December 4, 2009 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release
The Gwinnett Gladiators suffered their first regulation loss of the season to the South Carolina Stingrays in front of 7,711 on Friday night at The Arena at Gwinnett Center. A lone power play goal in the first period was all the Gladiators would muster, as the Stingrays stifled the offense, allowing just a handful of scoring opportunities in a neutral-zone heavy South Division contest.
South Carolina was the first to draw blood, scoring on a 3-on-2 break at 6:28 of the first period. Nate Kiser head-manned the puck to Rob Ricci on the left wing, who dropped a pass for Matt Scherer in the high slot, and Scherer beat Gwinnett goaltender Danny Taylor with a wrist shot below his glove to take the 1-0 lead.
The Gladiators evened the score at one with a power play goal from Adam Berti, who was the beneficiary of a rebound off of a Drew Paris shot from the blue line. Paris took a pass from Tom Zanoski and let loose a low slapper, which deflected to South Carolina goaltender Todd Ford's left and straight to the stick of Berti, who was able to tap it into a gaping net for his third power play strike on the season.
The teams would go to the locker rooms tied at one at the end of 20 minutes. The Gladiators doubled up the Stingrays' shots in the period with a 14-7 margin and cashed in on their only the only power play opportunity of the period.
The teams skated stride for stride in the second period, and the Gladiators were able to keep the Stingrays off the board in their first power play of the game thanks to a sprawling kick save by defenseman Tim Filangeri when Taylor was caught out of position.
Each team had two man-advantages in the frame, but neither found the back of the net, and the game remained tied at one entering the final period.
Gwinnett retained their edge in shots, finishing the second up two on the Stingrays 21-19.
The Stingrays made it 2-1 at 11:54 of the third period on a power play goal after Jamie Fritsch went off for holding the stick. South Carolina rookie sensation Nikita Kashirski roofed a wrist shot from the right face off dot over Taylor's blocker to give the Stingrays their second lead of the night.
The Stingrays' lead would hold up, and Keith Johnson tacked on an empty net goal with 12 seconds remaining to seal the win for the Stingrays and stop a potential three-game win streak in its tracks.
Tom Zanoski extended his point streak to five games with his assist on Berti's first period goal.
Todd Ford finished with 30 saves in the win, stopping all but one Gladiator shots, and Danny Taylor made 26 saves in his first regulation loss to South Carolina on the season.
The Gladiators remain in last place in the South Division with the loss.
The Gladiators return to the ice at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Sunday afternoon for a 4:05 p.m. match up with the Charlotte Checkers.
ECHL Stories from December 4, 2009
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- Grizzlies Beat Ontario 6-2; Complete Home Stand Saturday at 7 - Utah Grizzlies
- Kalamazoo's Sal Peralta Nets Goal and Adds Assist in 5-4 Overtime Loss - Kalamazoo Wings
- Dekanich Delivers In Cyclones 2-1 Shootout Victory - Cincinnati Cyclones
- Cyclones win over Everblades 2-1 - Florida Everblades
- Jackals Fall To Checkers 2-1 - Elmira Jackals
- Stingrays Nip Gladiators 3-1 - Atlanta Gladiators
- Stingrays Push Their Winning Streat to Five with 3-1 Victory at Gwinnett - South Carolina Stingrays
- Trenton Drops Back and Forth Match, 5-4 - Trenton Devils
- Checkers Back In Win Column, Edge Elmira 2-1 - Charlotte Checkers
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- Bakersfield's Pielmeier Named ECHL Goaltender Of The Month For November - ECHL
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- Pielmeier Selected ECHL Goaltender Of The Month - Bakersfield Condors
- Goaltender Alec Richards Headed Back To Rockford IceHogs - Toledo Walleye
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