Glads fall to Elmira, 2-1

DULUTH -- In a tight, close game at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, the Gwinnett Gladiators were only able to split the difference with the Elmira Jackals, falling 2-1 in their second and final meeting of the season. Brenden Walker notched the lone Gladiator goal, while goaltender Travis Fullerton stopped all but one for Elmira.<br /> <br /> The game opened with a dicey first period, as the rising tension was palpable between the Jackals and Gladiators. The two teams were neck and neck throughout the first twenty, with both squads registering decent attempts on goal, but neither finding the back of the net. Louis Domingue once again stood tall in the Gladiators net, shutting down every Jackal scoring opportunity.<br /> <br /> Elmira (17-13-0-3) was able to break through the scoreless game almost midway through the second period at 7:07. Justin Sawyer dropped a pass back to Kevin Hart, who was waiting in the right face-off circle, allowing Hart at opportunity to fire the puck into the goal. Then, just over a minute later, the Jackals increased their lead to two. As Gwinnett's Joe Stejskal made his way out of the defensive end with the puck, Phil Bronner picked it from Stejskal's stick and quickly slapped it in past Domingue. <br /> <br /> The Gladiators (10-19-1-0) continued to press hard, and at 18:28 of the 2nd period, they were able to get themselves on the board and draw the game to within one. Forward Brenden Walker carried the puck up ice and parked himself just outside the point, where he worked the advantage of a crowd in front of Fullerton to find the back of the net.<br /> <br /> In the third, the Gladiators looked as though they would be able to answer Elmira's two goals, as they outshot their opponent for the third straight period. Having pulled their goalie, Gwinnett spent the final minutes of the 3rd jammed in front of the Jackals net, but were unable to get the puck past Fullerton. Louis Domingue stopped 22 of 24 shots from Elmira in his second straight start as a Gladiator between the posts, and Travis Fullerton stopped all but one of the Gladiators' 32 shots. <br /> <br /> The Gladiators will continue their homestand Thursday, January 8th with their seventh matchup of the season against the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:05 p.m. This game will also mark the Gladiators second Student Night of the season, where students can receive a discounted ticket with a valid student ID.<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

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