Gladiators snap Blades’ win streak 3-2
DULUTH, Ga. – The Gwinnett Gladiators rallied from a 2-0 second period deficit to defeat the Florida Everblades 3-2 Saturday night, snapping the Everblades’ five-game winning streak.
After a scoreless first period, the Everblades built a 2-0 lead in the first half of the second period. Adam Brace delivered a pass to Mike Little in the slot and flexed the puck past Gwinnett netminder Adam Brown for the goal. The goal is Little’s second in as many games.
Halfway through the middle frame, Florida added its second goal on a great individual effort by Jason Wilson, who skated into the zone on the left wing side, and worked his way around a defender to the top of the crease. Wilson slipped a backhand shot through the five-hole of Brown for the tally.
Gwinnett rallied and was sparked by a power play goal by Garry Nunn. He one-timed a shot from the circle past rookie netminder Daniel Altshuller for the first Gwinnett goal of the game.
Moments later, J.P. Labardo found himself with the puck in the slot on his backhand. Labardo spun and delivered a wrist shot into the net and beat a screened Altshuller to tie the game at 2-2 after 40 minutes played.
The Gladiators capped the rally at 8:51 of the third period, when Casey Pierro-Zabotel delivered a breakaway pass to Brendan Walker, who wristed the puck into the net’s top shelf for the go-ahead marker.
The Everblades unleashed as offensive assault in the game’s final five minutes, but was unable to beat a solid effort by Brown down the stretch. Brown turned aside everything Florida threw his way and preserved the 3-2 victory.
Brown earned the win stopping 19 of 21 shots, while Altshuller takes the loss impressively allowing three goals on 27 shots faced.
The Everblades return home for the upcoming week, but their next game on Nov. 14 is at South Carolina to open a three-game road stretch in three days.