Sports

Gwinnett Gladiators in Sole Possession of First Place

3-2 win over Greenville Road Warriors solidifies lead in ECHL's South Division.

 

By Dustin Bixby

Assistant Captain Andy Brandt notched a pair of goals to help the Gwinnett Gladiators move back into sole possession of first place in the ECHL's South Division with a 3-2 win over the Greenville Road Warriors on Monday afternoon (Jan. 16)  at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.

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Colin Vock opened the scoring at 13:26 of the first period sliding into an opening in the slot and beating Greenville netmidner Jason Missiaen to the short side for his 5th goal of the season. Dave Strathman and Tyler Murovich collected the helpers on the marker for Gwinnett. 

The Road Warriors posted 15 shots in the first period, one more than they had in the entire contest on Saturday night against the Gladiators. Greenville finished with a 15-5 shots advantage after the first period in today's game.

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Gwinnett added to its lead in the second period with Andy Brandt's 9th goal of the season. Brandt redirected Pat Galivan's shot from the right wing circle past Missiaen for the goal at 10:47 of the period. Nikita Kashirsky also had a helper on the power play goal for Gwinnett. It was just the fifth power play goal for the Gladiators since Dec. 8.

Brandt notched his second goal of the game just 14 seconds into the third period lifting a shot over the shoulder of Missiaen for the marker. Galivan added his second assist of the night while Aaron Bendickson earned an assist on the goal for Gwinnett. 

Greenville battled back in the third period posting a pair of goals about three minutes apart. Jyri Niemi clanked the puck off the cross bar and past Jeff Jakaitis for the unassisted goal to get Greenville on the board at 3:15 into the third period.

Marc-Olivier Vallerand cut the Gladiators lead to one at 6:19 of the third finding a loose puck in the slot and beat Jakaitis for the marker.

The Gladiators clamped down defensively over the final fifteen minutes of the third period to move back into sole possession of first place in the ECHL's South Division.

The team practices at the Ice Forum in Duluth at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday. Gwinnett returns to action on Friday as they host the Florida Everblades at 7:35 p.m. at the .

(Editor's note: This report on the game was provided by Dustin Bixby, vice president of communications and new media for the Gwinnett Gladiators.)

 


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