The Gwinnett Gladiators used a pair of goals from Bruce Graham and four power play goals to roll past the Mississippi Sea Wolves 6-2 in the Gladiators season opener at The Arena at Gwinnett Center Oct. 18. Kevin Nastiuk finished with 25 saves for the Gladiators in his first start for Gwinnett.
The Gladiators jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Josh Engel's first pro goal at 13:23 of the first period. Engel ripped a slapshot from the blue line through traffic past Mississippi netminder Jeremy Duchesne for the goal. Pat Bateman and Andy Brandt collected the assists on the power play goal for the Gladiators.
Brad Schell's first goal of the season pushed Gwinnett's lead to 2-0 late in the first period. On a 5-on-3 power play, Schell beat Duchesne over the glove for the goal. Jeff Mason set up the goal on the power play feeding Schell on the right wing side. Bruce Graham also had a helper on the goal at 19:23 of the first period.
Mississippi got on the board early in the first period. With the Gladiators scrambling in their own zone, Alexandre Parent beat Gladiators netminder Kevin Nastiuk for the marker. The Sea Wolves got an assist on the goal that came just 3:31 into the second period from Mathieu Melanson.
Bruce Graham and Bryan Esner capitalized on a Mississippi turn-over just inside the Sea Wolves blue line to regain a 2-goal advantage for Gwinnett. Esner tapped the puck ahead to Graham as the forward walked in and whipped the puck thorugh the legs of Duchesne for the goal. Graham's first goal of the season came at 13:33 of the second period.
Melanson pulled the Sea Wolves back within a goal late in the second period chopping the puck out of the air past Nastiuk for the marker. Mike Wirll and Jeremy Hall collected the assists on the goal that came with 2:17 left in the second period for Mississippi.
Gwinnett added three third period goals to put the game away. Ryan Mahrle's first goal of the game gave the Gladiators a 4-2 lead 7:29 into the third period. Brandt added his second assist of the night on the marker while Jordan Fox collected a helper on the power play goal for Gwinnett.
Scott Marchesi's first goal of the season at 12:07 of the third period gave the Gladiators a three goal lead. Parked on the off wing, Marchesi found a loose puck and beat Duchesne for the goal for Gwinnett. Pat Bateman and Marty Mjelleli had the assists on the goal for Gwinnett.
Graham's second goal of the game finished the scoring at 16:23 of the third period. Graham beat Duchesne from point blank range for the marker for Gwinnett. Esner and Mason each added their second assists of the game on the power play goal for the Gladiators.
Nastiuk made 25 saves in the contest in the win for Gwinnett. The netminder improves to 1-0-0 with his first win as a Gladiator.
The Gladiators continue the 2008-09 season on Tuesday at the Arena at Gwinnett Center as they host the Augusta Lynx at 7:05 p.m.
- www.gwinnettherald.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
Gwinnett Gladiators best Sea Wolves, 6-2
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