Gladiators Defeat Checkers 4-1

Duluth - Craig Kowalski came within one goal of two straight playoff shutouts of the Charlotte Checkers and Jeff Mason scored two goals including the game winner as the Gwinnett Gladiators defeated the Charlotte Checkers 4-1 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Thursday night. With the win, the Gladiators lead the best of 5 South Division Quarterfinals 2-games-to-0 with Game 3 on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in Charlotte. Brad Schell and Jeff Campbell each collected three assists as the Gladiators pushed their 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff record to 2-0 on the postseason.

Gwinnett got on the board first with a power play goal from Jamie Milam, at the 10:15 mark of the first period. With Gwinnett on the man-advantage and cycling, Milam took a pass from Brad Schell and fired a one-timer from the top of the right wing circle that snuck by Charlotte goaltender Chris Holt for the Gwinnett marker. Schell and Jeff Campbell picked up assists on the goal as Gwinnett went ahead by a 1-0 score.

The Gladiators scored again in the middle of the second period to push their lead to two. Brad Schell took a pass from Guillaume Desbiens as the two forwards led the pack down the ice. Schell then skated through the Charlote defense and stopped at the left corner of the crease, drawing Charlotte goaltender Holt to that side of the net. Instead of taking a shot he slid the puck to Jeff Mason flying through the slot and Mason deposited it in a clear net to give Gwinnett a 2-0 lead and record his first postseason goal. Schell and Desbiens got assists on the goal coming at the 9:14 mark of the second period.

Justin Maiser ended Gwinnett net-minder Craig Kowalski's shutout streak with a goal just 17 seconds into the third period. Kowalski has blanked the Checkers for 100:17 straight in this postseason prior to the even-strength marker. Maiser circled the net and beat Kowlaksi for the back-door marker. Ryan Murphy and Lee Falardeau got credit for assists on the goal as Charlotte cut the Gwinnett led to one.

Gwinnett punched the lead back to two goals with an even-strength goal from Jim Jackson at the 8:06 mark of the third period. With Gwinnett cycling on a power play, Guillaume Desbiens sent a pass to Jeff Campbell and Campbell turned it along to Jackson at the lefthand corner of the Charlotte crease. Jackson collected the pass and beat Holt over the left shoulder just one second after the power play expired. Desbiens and Campbell each picked up his second assist of the contest on the marker.

Jeff Mason notched his second goal of the postseason at the 12:55 mark of the third period to give the Gladiators a 4-1 lead. At the left wing point, Mason took a pass from Jeff Campbell and fired a slap shot that snuck under Holt's left arm for the marker. Campbell and Brad Schell each tallied an assist on the marker to bring their assist totals to three each on the game.

Charlotte was unable to answer and the Gladiators took the 4-1 win. With the win, the Gladiators climb to 2-0 on the postseason and lead the series by a 2-0 margin.

Kowalski got the win, making 37 saves in the process and pushing his 2008 Kelly Cup Playoff record to 2-0.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season with Game 3 of the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs on Saturday, April 12th as they travel to Indian Trail, NC to take on the Charlotte Checkers at the Extreme Ice Center at 7:00 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday'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.