Gladiators drop playoff game at Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Gwinnett Gladiators got first period goals from Jim Jackson and Ryan Mahrle but could not get past the South Carolina Stingrays in a 5-2 loss in Game 1 of the ECHL South Division Semifinals on Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum.

With the win, South Carolina takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series. Gwinnett and South Carolina play Game 2 at the North Charleston Coliseum at 7:05 p.m. Saturday night.

The Gladiators jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first period. Jackson notched his 3rd goal of the postseason, ripping a slap shot past South Carolina netminder Davis Parley from the left wing point for the marker. Jeff Campbell collected an assist on the goal, sliding the puck back to Jackson to set up the goal at 2:39 of the first period.

South Carolina answered just 60 seconds later. The Stingrays capitalized on a Gladiators turnover inside the Gwinnett zone for the marker. Travis Morin ripped a snap shot over the shoulder of Gladaitors goaltender Craig Kowalski. Scott Romfo notched an assist on the score.

Mahrle regained the lead for Gwinnett at 6:21 of the first period. Working down the off wing on a power play, Mahrle took a pass from Tomas Pospisil and flicked the puck past an outstretched Parley for the 2-1 lead. Matt Anderson also had an assist on the goal for Gwinnett.

Another Gwinnett turnover inside the Gladiators zone resulted in South Carolina's second goal of the game. Pierre-Luc O'Brien ripped a wrist shot over Kowalski' shoulder to tie the game at two. Matt Smith and Nate Kiser notched the assists on the goal for the Stingrays at 11:34 of the first period.

Gwinnett fell behind for the first time in the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs in the second period. Morin notched his second goal of the game, as he stuffed the puck past Kowalski with time expiring in the second period. Assists on the goal went to Chris Chaput and Sean Collins for South Carolina.

South Carolina extended their lead to two goals in the third period at the 3:57 mark of the final stanza. Chris Chaput capitalized on another Gladiators turnover and beat Kowalski over the shoulder for the score. Collins and Rory Rawlyk notched the assists on the goal for South Carolina for a 4-2 lead.

Marty Guerin put the game out of reach at 16:01 of the third period, flicking the puck over Kowalski in the slot for the goal. Trent Campbell and Stephen Werner collected the assists for the Stingrays, giving South Carolina a 5-2 lead.

Gwinnett pulled no closer, despite pressure late in the thrid period. Kowalski finished with 27 saves in the loss while the Gladiators went 1-for-4 on the power play in the loss.

The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season in the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs with Game 2 of the ECHL South Division Semifinals on Saturday, April 18, as they travel to North Charleston to take on the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday's game on WDUN, News Talk 550.