Gwinnett Gladiators Beat Checkers 5-3

Gladiators netminder Kevin Nastiuk made 26 saves to help the Gladiators to a 5-3 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Friday night at the Time Warner Cable Arena. With the win, Nastiuk snapped a personal 6 game losing streak for the netmdiner while it was the Gladiators 5th 2-goal come-from-behind win this season. Gwinnett moved back to .500 and is now 15-15-4 on the season with the victory.

After a scorelss first period, Charlotte to jumped out to an early lead in the second period. Jeff Miles ripped a slapshot from the top of the right wing face off circle past Nastiuk for the marker at 4:03 of the second period. Michael Leveille added an assist on the goal for the Chekers.

Julian Brouillette pushed the Checkers lead to 2-0 just 35 seconds later. Nastiuk poked the puck out of pile up in the slot but it bounced right to a waiting Brouillette who whipped the puck past Nastiuk for the marker. Mike Bayrack and Matthew Ford notched the assists on the goal for the Checkers.

Gwinnett battled back in the later stages of the second period to tie the game at 2-2 before the second intermission. Adam Hobson collected his 6th goal of the season shorthanded just two minues after Charlotte's second goal of the game. Hobson finished a 2-on-1 break with Adam Berti as he beat Checkers netminder Jeff Jakaitis to the shortside for the marker. Brennan Turner collected an assist on the shorthanded goal for Gwinnett at 6:26 of the period.

Jean-Claude Sawyer tied the game at two with his first goal as a Gladiator with 2:29 left in the second period on the power play. Sawyer's shot was deflected in the slot and shot high in the air before landing behind Jakaitis and rolling into the net for the goal. Andy Brandt and Matt Siddall notched the assists on the goal for the Gladiators.

Gwinnett jumped out to a 3-2 lead on the Checkers at the 14:31 mark of the third period on Matt Siddall's 6th goal of the season. Parked on the goal line, Siddal was able to knock a loose puck past Jakaitis for the goal. Jeff Mason and Pat Bateman had the assists on the goal for Gwinnett.

Charlotte answerd just mintues later at the 15:58 mark of the third period to tie the game at three. Ford posted the goal for the Checkers as he was wide open on the left wing circle and ripped the puck past Nastiuk for the marker. Bayrack and Mike Taylor had the helpers on the tally for Gwinnett.

Travis Fuller answers just 35 seconds later for Gwinnett to regain the lead for the Gladiators. Fuller picked up a loose puck in the slot as he trailed an odd man rush and beat Jakaitis on the put-back for the marker. Chris Cava and Jeff Dunne notched the assists on the goal for Gwinnett at 16:33 of the third period.

Adam Berti collected his 5th goal of the season with 1:43 left in the final period to put the contest away for the Gladiators. Berti took an outlet pass from Siddall along the Charlotte blue line and walked in untouched on Jakaitis before beating the netminder for the tally.

Gwinnett went 1-for-5 on the power play in the win while Charlotte was 0-for-4 on the man advantage while giving up a shorthanded goal to the Gladiators in the contest.

Gwinnett continues action in the 2008-09 season on Wednesday, Janaury 14th as they host the Florida Everblades at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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