Glads sting Rays 6-2

DULUTH - The Gwinnett Gladiators made a resounding statement Saturday night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center, crushing the South Carolina Stingrays 6-2 in front of 7,039 satisfied fans.

The Rays (28-20-2) came into the game on a three-game winning streak, and had beaten Gwinnett (21-22-7) in seven straight matchups. In the second period, none of that mattered.

Leading 1-0 Cody Brookwell opened the scoring in the second with his first career tally as a professional to make it 2-0 at 6:03. Akim Aliu and Tim Miller added assists.

Aliu finished with two goals and an assist as did Michael Forney, while Miller and Pat Galivan tacked on three assists apiece. This was Miller's first game back from the AHL, after scoring a goal in a 5-2 Chicago Wolves win on Friday night.

Gwinnett increased their lead to three on the powerplay at the 14:41 mark. Galivan in the far corner passed the puck through the crease to a wide open Aliu on the back door. Forney also added an assist.

The third goal featured a strong case of déjà vu; another powerplay marker and the exact same set up with a wide open shot for Aliu, his eighth goal in six games since joining Gwinnett from the AHL.

Just 18 seconds later Forney buried a rebound off the near post earning his second tally of the night. At the end of forty minutes the score remained 5-0.

South Carolina decreased the deficit to three, adding two goals early in the third. The first tally came from Tommy Goebel at the 1:17 mark.

The Rays struck again 1:22 later, the goal coming off the stick of Trent Campbell to make it 5-2.

Defensemen Paul Flache picked up one more tally for the Glads at the 12:06 mark to cap a 6-2 win.

The Gladiators went 3-for-5 on the man advantage while the Stingrays went 0-for-3, with Gwinnett outshooting the Rays 39-26. Edward Pasquale got the win, his first since coming back from AHL Chicago, making 24 saves. Shane Owen took the loss and was pulled after surrendering Gwinnett's fourth goal.
The Gladiators went 3-for-5 on the man advantage while the Stingrays went 0-for-3.

Gwinnett is back at home tomorrow at home in a rematch with South Carolina at 4:05 pm.