Gladiators scorch the Solar Bears

DULUTH -- The Gwinnett Gladiators got their revenge on the Orlando Solar Bears Friday night in their second game of the three game series, winning 4-1. <br /> <br /> Kent Patterson had another great performance in net, while Casey Pierro-Zabotel had a goal and an assist, and Brenden Walker tacked on two assists. <br /> <br /> After a fairly even, back and forth start to the game, the Gladiators (16-24-2-1) found net first on only their third shot of the match. Brenden Walker entered the offensive end at the right point and dropped a pass backwards to Casey Pierro-Zabotel. The veteran forward filled the vacated void, stepping into the circle and smashing it right past Sean Bonar for his nineteenth of the season at the 11-minute mark.<br /> <br /> Another goal was imminent, as the Gladiators buzzed around Orlando's net immediately following their first, and would score on their very next shot. Will MacDonald chased down a long lead pass from Zach Yuen to the left half-wall. As he reached the puck, he immediately slapped it back to Travis Ouellette perfectly at the far post, and the forward one-timed the puck over the sprawling Bonar at 13:11. <br /> <br /> The Gladiators put in their third goal of the night just as the second period got underway, at 3:21. On a delayed penalty, Bo Dolan quickly received a heave from Joe Stejskal at the far point. Dolan sent in a shot to the nearside of the goal, which trickled over the goal line, stunning Bonar. Kent Patterson was once again consistently challenged throughout the period, but Orlando could not find net on their 10 second period shots.<br /> <br /> The Solar Bears (22-16-3-0) ended Patterson's shutout bid at 8:54 into the third period. Max Nicastro sent a rocket into the net from the top of the zone for his first goal of the season. The Gladiators sealed the deal with an empty net goal at 19:19. After two consecutive icings, James Melindy skied his third straight attempt at the empty crease of the faceoff win, and finally banked it correctly to wrap up the Gwinnett win.<br /> <br /> Kent Patterson saved all but one of Orlando's 21 shots, while Sean Bonar went 13 for 16 on the night for the opposition.<br /> <br /> The Gladiators will conclude their three game series with the Orlando Solar Bears tomorrow, February 7th, at 7:05 p.m. Join the Gladiators for their most popular promotion of the season, TEDDY BEAR TOSS! Bring new or gently used stuffed animals to throw onto the ice after the Gladiator's first goal. Additionally, there will be a performance by America's premier AC/DC tribute band, "Back N Black." <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

http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/2/284944