Gladiators fall to Checkers, 6-3

DULUTH - The Charlotte Checkers used three late second period goals to down the Gwinnett Gladiators 6-3 on Tuesday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett is now 1-4-2 in its last seven games and 7-4-3 overall.

Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead on Andy Contois' 5th goal of the season as he bounced the puck off the skate of a Charlotte defenseman in the slot and past Checkers netminder Chris Holt for the marker. Brandon Kaleniecki and Jim Jackson hooked up to pick up the assist on the goal for the Gladiators.

Charlotte stole the momentum by killing off a two-minute Gladiators five-on-three power play midway thought the opening period. Adam Nightingale capitalized on the momentum shift for the Checkers, beating Gwinnett netminder Dan Turple from 25 feet out. Dan Murphy and Mike Ouellette picked up the assists on the marker at 12:50 of the first period for the Checkers.

Ouellette gave the Checkers a 2-1 lead less than two mintues later, beating Turple to the far post with a slapshot over the netminder's shoulder. Holt and Jan Vodrazka pushed the puck up the ice to add the assists on the goal at the 14:29 mark of the first period.

Charlotte pushed its lead to 3-1 on a goal by Murphy at the 16:23 mark of the second period. Ouellette picked up an assist on the marker for the Checkers to take a two-goal lead.

Wide open along the off post, Bruce Graham corralled a loose puck in the slot and flipped the puck past Turple to give the Checkers a 4-1 lead. Ryan Constant posted an assist on the goal, scored just 23 seconds after Murphy's marker.

Dusty Jamieson gave the Checkers a 5-1 lead with just 35 seconds left in the second period. Jamieson took a pass from Mark Lee to to set up the marker and bounced the puck past Turple. Kenny Smith also had an assist on the power play goal for the Checkers.

Brad Schell cut the Checkers' lead to 3 with a power play tally just 2:16 into the final period. Walking in over the Charlotte blue line, Schell ripped a slapshot past Holt from the top of the right wing face off circle for his 6th goal of the season. Mike Vigilante and Jon Awe added helpers on the goal.

Charlotte took back the 4-goal lead on a goal by Bruce Graham. Mark Lee dropped the puck off for Graham just inside the Gladaitors blue line to set up the marker. Graham ripped a slapshot past Turple for the marker with 4:49 left in the final period to round out the scoring.

Gwinnett answered on the power play at the 16:55 mark, with Matt York's first goal of the season. Scott Mifsud collected an assist on the goal rolling the puck on the backhand though the slot to a wide open York where the defenseman had the entire net to jam the puck home.

Gwinnett finished with two power play goals on 10 chances while holding the Checkers to just one power play goal on eight chances. Gwinnett finished the contest outshooting the Checkers 36-30 as Turple finished with 24 saves for the Gladiators in the loss.

The American Conference Champion Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fourth season at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Thanksgiving Night, November 23rd at 7:05 p.m. as they host the Charlotte Checkers. The Gladiators offer several ticket packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to www.gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators play all 36 home games on the Your Best Rate Financial Home Ice at the Arena at Gwinnett Center located on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth and are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers.