Sports
Brandt Leads Gladiators to 7th Straight Win
Gwinnett remains in first place in ECHL Eastern Conference with 85 points after the win.
Andy Brandt led the Gwinnett Gladiators to their seventh straight win as he collected two goals, including the game winner, in a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones on Wednesday (March 14) night at the in Duluth. Gwinnett (37-17-7-4) remains in first place in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference with 85 points after the win.
Cincinnati came out firing and opened the scoring 7:19 into the first period. Jonathan Hazen danced through the Gladiators defense to beat netminder Marc Cheverie over his glove hand to give the Cyclones a 1-0 lead. Joe Devin and Maury Edwards each notched an assist on the marker.
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Just as the Gladiators first power play expired, Captain Paul Flache fired the puck into the net from the top of the left wing face off circle to tie the game 1-1 at 10:08 of the period. Forward Justin Milo found Flache from the corner to notch an assist on the night. Tyler Murovich had the other helper on the goal for Gwinnett.
At 17:09 of the middle stanza, Andy Brandt lifted a backhand past a sliding Cyclones netminder Brian Foster to give the Gladiators a 2-1 advantage. Jordan Foreman set up the goal finding Brandt along the goal line for an assist on the tally. Rookie Jacob Drewiske posted his first professional point picking up a helper on the marker.
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The Gladiators ended the second period with a 2-1 lead, outshooting the Cyclones 25-to-12.
Brandt secured a 3-2 victory with his 15th goal of the season into an empty net on the penalty kill at 19:55 of the final period. Justin Milo outraced a Cyclones defenseman to set up the goal for Gwinnett while Sean Duddy, in his first professional game, notched an assist on the marker.
The Gladiators outshot Cincinnati 32-to-18. Cheverie finished the night with 17 saves and earned his second straight win for the Gwinnett.
The Gladiators return to home ice to battle the Cyclones on Friday (March 16) night at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The puck will drop at 7:35 p.m.
(Editor's note: This game report provided by the Gwinnett Gladiators.)
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