Gladiators fall to Lynx 2-1

Augusta, GA - Craig Kowalski finished with 39 saves while Matt Anderson notched his 13th goal of the season but it wasn't enough to help the Gladiators past the Augusta Lynx in a 2-1 loss at the James Brown Arena on Saturday night. Gwinnett remains in second place in the ECHL's South Division as the South Carolina Stingrays were idle on Saturday night. The Gladiators fall to 41-20-2-3 on the season with the loss.


Gwinnett took a 1-0 lead on the Lynx at 13:38 of the first peirod. Anderson walked into the slot and ripped a slap shot past Augusta netminder Bobby Goepfert for the goal. Anderson slipped out of a scrum along the dasherboards with the puck walked into the slot untouched to set up the goal. Walker McDonald collected an assist on the marker for Gwinnett.


Augusta equalized the contest at 1-1 on the power play at 10:35 of the second period. Parked on the doorstep, Shane Hynes took a rink wide pass from Anthony Battaglia and jammed the puck past Gladiators netmidner Kowalski for the goal. Ryan Dingle also had an assist on Hynes' power play goal for the Lynx.


Augusta took a 2-1 lead on their second power play goal of the contest with just 30 seconds left in the third period. Parked in the corner, Matt Auffrey threw the puck at the back of Kowalski and bounced into the net. Kowalski couldn't manage the bouncing puck from behind as it slipped down his back and into the net. Matt Christie and Louis Goulet collected the assists on the power play goal for Augusta.


Kowalski made 39 saves in the loss for the Gladiators while Gwinnett was held scoreless on the power play on two chances in the contest. Augusta finished 2-for-4 on the power play scoring both goals on the man advantage.


The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Wednesday, March 26th as they travel to Florida to take on the Everblades at the Germain Arena at 7:30 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Wednesday's game on WDUN, News Talk 550.


Celebrating its 20th Anniversary as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The 25 teams includes the Mississippi (Biloxi) Sea Wolves, who return after missing two seasons in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the expansion Elmira (N.Y.) Jackals. The ECHL will play 900 games beginning Oct. 18 and concluding Apr. 5.


The Gwinnett Gladiators continue their fifth season as a proud member of the ECHL - season ticket packages are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com


The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.