ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Wheeling Rolls by Gwinnett, 3-1

Published on December 29, 2014 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


DULUTH, Ga. - After a late third period spark, the Gladiators (9-16-1-0) were unable to make the full comeback Monday night. The Wheeling Nailers (13-14-0-0) scored three unanswered goals, beating Gwinnett, 3-1. Joe Stejskal scored the lone Gladiator goal, while Chaz Johnson scored two goals for the Nailers and Eric Hartzell made 38 saves for the opponents.

The first period was a tale of close calls for the Gladiators. They pounded 16 shots on Wheeling's goaltender Eric Hartzell, and a goal seemed almost certain, but it was the Nailers who would leave the period up by one. Wheeling opted to play the game with one forward in the neutral zone at all times, and Chaz Johnson cashed in on the first jailbreak pass at 2:25, as he found the gap to the left of a diving Adam Brown on the breakaway.

The Gladiators put out a valiant effort in the second period, matching their opponent's shots at 10 a-piece, but were unable to hammer one in against the Nailers, as Wheeling scored two unanswered goals in the period. Shawn Skelly deflected the puck into the net from an original shot by Bobby Shea at 8:57. Johnson tallied his second goal of the evening for the Nailers at 12:21 on a quick wrister from the right point.

Tensions mounted in third period, as the two teams pushed and shoved their way through the remaining 20 minutes, with only a shocking three penalties making the books. The Gladiators harnessed their frustration and found the back of the net at 11:09.

On an abbreviated 12-second power play, the Gladiators absolutely overwhelmed the Nailers' defensive end in front of the goal, and Garry Nunn knocked it to Joe Stejskal. The defenseman slammed a slap shot through Hartzell, and the puck just barely trickled through, crawling to and passing the threshold to break up the shutout.

The Gladiators' goal seemed to light a fire under the team, and the momentum was all in their favor for the remainder of the third, outshooting their opponent 13-to-8, but it was too little too late and they were unable to turn the game around and make the comeback against the Nailers.

Adam Brown stopped 30 of the 33 shots the Nailers sent his way, while Eric Hartzell stopped 38 of the 39 Gladiators' shots, at the other end of the ice.

The Gladiators are back at it tomorrow night, continuing their seven game homestand, against the Florida Everblades at 7:05 p.m. Come out Tuesday and join the Gladiators as they help those in need at their annual Winter Clothes Drive at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Purchase up to four Premium Level Tickets at $10 each per one item of donated winter clothing.

For tickets and schedule information, visit the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league, and are affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth - where parking is always free.

As Atlanta's "One and Only" professional hockey team, the Gladiators have established an extraordinary winning tradition and unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment. The Gladiators are consistently ranked as one of the top "Things To Do" in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region.

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ECHL Stories from December 29, 2014


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