Tuesday March 19th, 2024 6:08AM

Gladiators snap losing skid with 5-3 win

By staff
DULUTH -- The Gwinnett Gladiators (20-10-1-0) snapped a three-game skid with a 5-3 win over the South Carolina Stingrays (13-16-1-3) on Thursday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett is still in second place in the South Division only one point behind the Greenville Road Warriors. The loss was South Carolina's six straight.

The Gladiators got on the board first on a goal late in the first period. Doug Jones notched his 11th goal of the season at 15:06 of the opening period as he received a pass from Jason Clark off the boards and flipped the puck into the goal for the marker. Captain Andy Brandt earned an assist on the play.

Brandt widened the Gladiators lead to 2-0 just 6:14 into the second period. Brandt slipped the shot right into the net past South Carolina's goalie Jeff Jakaitis' glove. Evan Bloodoff and Clark each earned a helper on the play.

Tyler McNeely got South Carolina on the board 9:13 into the second with a Power Play goal. Hunter Bishop scored with 1:58 left in the second period for the Stingrays to tie the game 2-2 heading into the intermission.

Bloodoff put Gwinnett back on top with his 10th goal of the season 12:06 into the third period. The goal came as the Nelson, BC native skated down the right wing and beat South Carolina's defensemen and ripped a shot past Jakaitis for the unassisted marker.

Rookie Russ Sinkewich earned his first goal of the season 12:29 into the third, just 27 seconds after Bloodoff's marker. The goal came as Sinkewich found an open spot through traffic and shot the puck into the net. Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Bloodoff both picked up an assist on the play. McNeely closed the gap to 4-3 after he scored his second goal of the game 13:22 into the second.

Newcomer Scott Arnold picked up his 2nd goal of the year with only 10 seconds left in the third. The empty net goal came after South Carolina pulled Jakaitis for an extra attacked. Pierro-Zabotel and Bloodoff both earned an assist on the play.

The Gladiators will return the Arena at Gwinnett Center tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. to face the South Carolina Stingrays.
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