After a scoreless tie through the first period, Gwinnett was unable to take an early lead on a penalty shot opportunity 2:35 into the second period. Jordan Fox was awarded the penalty shot for Gwinnett as he was hooked up sliding into the Charlotte zone. Fox was denied by Checkers netmidner Jeff Jakaitis to keep the game scoreless.
Matthew Ford broke through for the Checkers with the game's first goal at 11:40 of the second period. Ford danced into the Gladiators zone before slipping into the right wing circle and ripping a slapshot past Gwinnett netminder Joe Fallon for the marker. Marty Guerin had the assist on the goal for the Checkers.
Charlotte added to its lead at 17:58 of the second period on the power play. Guerin found a loose puck in the slot and beat Fallon for the tally. Michael Leveille and Ryan Hillier had the assists on the goal for the Checkers.
Ethan Graham was credited with the Checkers' third goal of the game coming just 44 seconds later. Graham dumped the puck into the Gwinnett zone, off the leg of a Gladiators defenseman and past Fallon for the marker. Levielle added his second assist of the game while Jeff Miles also had a helper on the goal for the Checkers at 18:42 of the second period giving Charlotte a 3-0 lead.
Charlotte pushed its lead to 4-0 at 6:07 of the third period on Guerin's second goal of the game. Guerin beat Fallon from point blank range in the slot for the goal. Ford added an assist on the goal for the Checkers.
Gwinnett got on the board at 11:19 of the third period. From behind the goal line, Bateman threw the puck off the back of the leg of Jakaitis to get Gwinnett on the board. Scott Marchesi had an assist on the goal for the Gladiators.
Mason cut the Checkers lead in half at 4-2 with his 13th goal of the season. Mason beat Jakaitis from the right wing circle off a rink wide pass from Jean-Claude Sawyer out of the corner for the goal. Tom Zanoski added an assist on the marker for Gwinnett at 16:05 of the third period.
On a power play, Gwinnett pulled Fallon with a minute and a half left in the third but could get no closer in the loss. Fallon finished with 36 saves in the losing effort for the Gladiators. Gwinnett went 0-for-4 on the power play while Charlotte posted one goal on six chances on the man advantage.
The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season on Friday, March 27th as they host the South Carolina Stingrays at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:35 p.m. Catch all the play by play action on WDUN, News Talk 550.
Began in 1988-89 with five teams playing in four states, the Premier â
Patrick Bateman (Photo from gwinnettgladiators.com)
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