Charlotte took a 1-0 lead on the Gladiators in the first period on the power play. With just four seconds left on a power play, Mike Taylor was able to rip a slapshot from the left wing point over the shoulder of Gladaitors netminder Josh Johnson for the goal. Jared Nightingale and Peter Tsimikalis had the assist on the only goal of the contest for the Checkers at 16:17 of the first period.
In the second, the Gladiators and the Checkers exchanged chances but the period ended as it began with Charlotte clinging to a 1-0 lead.
Charlotte clamped down defensively in the third period as Gwinnett mustered just 6 shots to the Checkers 3 helping preserve the 1-0 lead and win. Gwinnett finished 0-for-7 on the power play while the only goal in the contest came on the man advantage by the Checkers as Charlotte went 1-for-6 on the power play.
Dirk Southern and Pat Bateman both had their point-scoring streaks snapped at five consecutive games in the loss as Bateman did not post a goal for the first time in five games while Southern was held without an assist for the first time in five games as well.
Johnson notched 22 saves for the Gladiators in the loss as the Gladiators have now gone 7 consecutive periods on the road without a goal.
The Gladiators are back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 when they host the Florida Everblades at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.
Begun in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier â
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