Gwinett took a 1-0 lead on the Stingrays 3:16 into the first period. Lou Dickenson stripped a South Carolina defenseman of the puck in the neutral zone and beat netminder Josh Johnson on a breakaway for the goal. Dickenson's 15th goal of the season came unassisted for Gwinnett.
Cail MacLean tied the game up a one with a 5-on-3 power play goal for the Stingrays. Parked on the off wing, MacLean took a rink wide pass from Travis Morin and beat Gladiators netminder Craig Kowalski for the marker. Marty Guerin and Travis Morin collected the assists on the power play goal at the 17:26 mark of the first period.
Gwinnett took a 2-1 lead on the Stingrays early in the second period on Matt Anderson's 6th goal of the season. Anderson found a loose puck in a scrum in front of the South Carolina net and tapped the puck past Johnson for the marker. Jeff Campbell and Dickenson notched the assists on the power play goal for the Gladiators
South Carolina answered on the power play 7:33 into the second period. Nate Kiser ripped a slap shot from the right wing point past Kowalski for the tally. Morin and Chris Chaput notched the assist on the man advantage marker for the Stingrays.
Andy Brandt gave the Gladiators their third lead of the game at the 8:35 mark of the second period. Brandt finished an odd man rush as he beat Johnson to the short side for his 8th goal of the season. Campbell had an assist on the goal flicking the puck behind himself across to Brandt to set up the goal. Jamie Milam also picked up an assist on the power play goal for Gwinnett.
The Gwinnett lead lasted five minues as the Stingrays posted their third power play goal of the game at the 13:22 of the second period. Morin picked up his third point of the night as he beat Kowalski from the left wing circle for the marker. Mike Gabinet and Guerin had the assists on the goal for the Stingrays.
South Carolina took their first lead of the game at the 11:35 mark of the third period. Pierre-Luc O'Brien notched the game winning goal as he flipped the puck past Kowalski as he was parked in the slot. Derrick Byfuglien and Matt Scherer notched the assists on the even-strenght goal for South carolina.
Kowalski finished with 25 saves in the loss while Gwinnett finished 2-for-6 on the power play. Gwinnett gave up three power play goals in a road game for the first time since March 13, 2007 as South Carolina went 3-for-9 on the man advantage.
The Gladiators continue their fifth anniversary season on Saturday, January 19th as the Gladiators host the Mississippi Sea Wolves at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Catch all the play-by-play action in Saturday's game online via AccessNorthGa.com audio stream 3.
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.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/1/205963