Gladiators beat Everblades, 4-2

ESTERO, FLA - Sean Fields made 32 saves to help lead the Gladiators to a 4-2 win over the Florida Everblades on Saturday night at the Germain Arena in Estero, Florida. Gwinnett improves to 35-11-7 on the season with the win and pushes its first place lead over the Everblades back to six points in the ECHL South Division.

Guillaume Desbiens gave the Gladiators a 1-0 lead with his 24th goal of the season. He rolled the puck off the stick of an Everblades defenseman past goaltender Kevin Nastiuk for the tally at 5:43 of the opening period. Desbiens muscled his way out of the corner to the front of the net before throwing the puck on goal. Derek Nesbitt posted an assist on the goal, moving the puck to Desbiens in the corner.

Florida tied the game at a goal apiece at the 14:02 mark of the second period on a 5-on-3 power play. Corey Neilson beat Fields on a slap shot from the point on the man advantage for the goal. Ernie Harlieb and Steve Saviano picked up the assists on the tally for Florida.

Jon Awe gave the Gladiators at 2-1 lead just 42 seconds in the third period with a slap shot from the point past Nastiuk. Awe was fed at the point by Desbiens to set up the goal for Gwinnett on the power play.

Paul Cabana tied the game at two jamming the puck past Fields at the 2:34 mark of the third period. Steve Saviano and Bogdan Rudenko posted the assists on the Florida goal.

Gwinnett took their last and only lead they would need in the game as Matt York capitalized on a Florida defensive turn over as he rolled the puck past an outstretched Nastiuk for the goal. Scott Kelman and Derek Nesbitt hooked up to pick up the assists on the goal at the 3:41 mark of the third period.

Desbiens posted his second goal of the night with just 4 seconds left in the third period adding an empty net goal to ice the game for the Gladiators. Kelman posted his second an assist of the game on the goal.

Gwinnett posted two goals in the win on the power play in six chances in the win.

The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2005-06 ECHL season on the road on Tuesday, February 28th as they travel to Pensacola to take on the Ice Pilots at 8:05 p.m. 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 gwinnettgladiators.com.

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