DULUTH -- The Gwinnett Gladiators opened the New Year with a dominating win, as well as their second shutout of the season, beating the Elmira Jackals 4-0 in their first matchup.<br />
<br />
Louis Domingue recorded a shut out, while Casey Pierro-Zabotel and Garry Nunn both tallied a goal and an assist.<br />
<br />
In his first appearance as a Gladiator this season, Louis Domingue registered a shutout, stopping all of Elmira's 24 shots on goal. The game marks the Gladiators' second shutout of the season. Offensively, the Gladiators scored four goals on Elmira's goaltender, Sam Marotta, on 23 shots. <br />
<br />
The Elmira Jackals came out strong the first period, but the Gladiators (10-18-1-0) got their footing and gained momentum midway through the period and tallied the first goal of the night at 10:59. Sean Berkstresser caught the puck from Casey Pierro-Zabotel, streaking down the left flank. He then snuck it around the defender and on a breakaway, made a beeline straight to the goal and juked out Marotta, who took the bait nearside. On a clever move, Berkstresser shifted the puck to his right, around the goalie, and placed it in the now wide-open net, for the Captain's fifth of the season.<br />
<br />
Gloves and sticks went flying in the final three minutes of the first period. After Elmira captain Matt Tassone sat on Dyson Stevenson in the Jackals' zone, Tassone ignored Stevenson's request to fight. As Stevenson was walking away, Tassone took that opportunity to stick-butt an exposed and unsuspecting Stevenson, bringing him down to his knees, and an all-out brawl ensued deep in Elmira's defensive end. <br />
<br />
The battle continued in the second period, but neither the Gladiators nor the Jackals could find the net. The Gladiators kept possession nicely throughout the period, but Elmira looked strong in their defensive end, allowing the home team to register only three shots in the entire second period. <br />
<br />
The third was a Gladiator-dominated period, as they kept the shutout and tacked on three unanswered goals. The first came on a chaotic power play scramble in front of Elmira's net, with Will MacDonald eventually able to knock the puck over the line to open the Gladiators' goal-driven third. <br />
<br />
On another man-advantage, Tristin Llewellyn sent a bullet on-goal, forcing Marotta to make the initial save. Pierro-Zabotel was waiting backdoor and turned the rebound into his tenth goal of the season on a one-timer at 5:44. The third goal of the period came on a Garry Nunn deflection into the net, after Joe Stejskal sent the puck towards goal with the initial shot from inside the left face off circle at 12:45. <br />
<br />
The Glads once again take on the Elmira Jackals tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. "The King" will be in the building Saturday night for our annual Elvis Night. The game will feature a special first intermission performance from Elvis himself! <br />
<br />
For tickets and schedule information, visit the official team website at www.gwinnettgladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.<br />
<br />
The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation's premier "AA" hockey league, and are affiliated with the Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth
