5/29/2006
GWINNETT UNABLE TO OVERCOME 3-1 DEFICIT IN 5-4 LOSS TO ACES
The Gwinnett Gladiators could not overcome a two-goal second period
deficit as they dropped a 5-4 decision to the Alaska Aces in Game 3 of
the Kelly Cup Finals. Alaska now leads the best of seven series 3-games-
to-0 with Game 4 of the series on Wednesday at the Arena at Gwinnett
Center at 7:35 p.m.
Scott Mifsud gave the Gladiators a 1-0 lead just 42 seconds into the
first period. Finding a rebound loose along the goal line, Mifsud tucked
the puck just inside the near post past Alaska netminder Matt Underhill
for the marker. Steve Slaton and Milan Gajic collected the assists on
the goal for the Gladiators.
Alaska tied the game at one with a power play goal at the 12:19 mark of
the opening period. Cam Keith finished a tic-tac-toe passing play with
Mike Scott and Olivier Filion for the goal.
Patrick Wellar broke a one-all tie just 3:14 into the second period to
give the Aces a 2-1 lead. Wellar ripped a slap shot over the shoulder of
Fields for the goal off a feed from Barrett Heisten. Keith also had an
assist on the marker.
Alex Leavitt pushed the Aces lead to 3-1 at the 8:17 mark of the period
with the Aces second power play goal of the game. Kimbi Daniels and Ryan
Gaucher collected the assists on the man advantage goal setting up
Leavitt on the power play.
Gwinnett got within a goal on Matt York=3Fs power play goal just 1:57 into
the third period. Jon Awe and Adam Courchaine collected the assists on
the marker as York ripped the puck past Underhill from the slot.
Alaska answered with a shorthanded tally at the 11:39 mark of the
period. With the Gladiators on a 5-on-3 power play, Kimbi Daniels
deflected a cross ice pass and walked in on a breakaway and beat Fields
for the goal.
Gwinnett kept battling as Guillaume Desbiens got the goal back at the
11:50 mark of the third period as he redirected Troy Milam slap shot
from the point past Underhill. Brad Schell also had an assist on the
goal that cut the Aces lead to 4-3 in the third period.
Peter Metcalf regained the two-goal advantage for Alaska on the power
play at the 12:56 mark of the final period. Matt Shasby and Filion
collected the assisted setting up Metcalf at the point on the power
play.
Adam Courchaine=3Fs 5th goal of the post season at the 17:16 mark of the
third period again got the Gladiators within a goal but Gwinnett could
not complete the come-back. Gajic and Mifsud hooked up to pick up the
assists on the marker. Gajic dropped the puck off for Courchaine walking
in over the blue line to set up the tally.
Gwinnett pulled Fields, who made just 3 saves in each of the final two
periods, with a little over a minute left in the third period but
Gwinnett could not complete the comeback as Alaska clamped down
defensively.
The Aces converted on three of seven power play chances while it was the
second consecutive game that the Gladiators gave up three power play
goals in a contest. The loss was the Gladiators third consecutive loss
and the first time this season that the Gladiators have lost more than
two consecutive games all year.
Alaska Aces vs Gwinnett Gladiators (May 29, 2006 at Duluth, GA.)
Alaska Aces (14-5) vs. Gwinnett Gladiators (10-4)
Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Duluth, GA. Arena: Arena At
Gwinnett
Attendance:6124 Start time:5:10 pm End time:7:48 pm Total
time:2:38
Goals by Period 1 2 3 Tot
----------------------------------
Alaska Aces......... 1 2 2 - 5
Gwinnett Gladiators. 1 0 3 - 4
1st period - 1, GWT, Mifsud, Scott (Gajic, Milan, Slaton, Steve)
:42. 2, AK, Keith, Cam (Filion, Oliver, Scott, Mike) 12:19 (pp).
Penalties - Keith, Cam, AK (boarding) :42; Desbiens, Guillaume, GWT
(interference) 1:14; Wellar, Patrick, AK (roughing) 2:32; Keith, Cam,
AK (tripping) 3:06; Maiser, Justin, AK (high sticking) 8:25; Eberly,
Danny, GWT (holding) 10:59; Milam, Troy, GWT (boarding) 14:29; Awe,
Jon, GWT (high sticking) 14:58; Minard, Chris, AK (tripping) 19:10.
2nd period - 3, AK, Wellar, Patrick (Heisten, Barrett, Keith, Cam)
3:14. 4, AK, Leavitt, Alex (Gaucher, Ryan, Daniels, Kimbi) 8:17 (pp).
Penalties - Metcalf, Peter, AK (hooking) 3:23; Gaucher, Ryan, AK
(uns****tsmanlike conduct) 5:10; York, Matt, GWT (holding) 5:10; Milam,
Troy, GWT (tripping) 6:50; McCambridge, Keith, AK (interference)
12:33; Keith, Cam, AK (fighting) 19:58; Desbiens, Guillaume, GWT
(fighting) 19:58.
3rd period - 5, GWT, York, Matt (Awe, Jon, Courchaine, Adam) 1:57
(pp). 6, AK, Daniels, Kimbi (McCambridge, Keith) 11:39 (sh). 7, GWT,
Desbiens, Guillaume (Milam, Troy, Schell, Brad) 11:50 (pp). 8, AK,
Metcalf, Peter (Shasby, Matt, Filion, Oliver) 12:56 (pp). 9, GWT,
Courchaine, Adam (Gajic, Milan, Mifsud, Scott) 17:16. Penalties -
Leavitt, Alex, AK (delaying the game) :37; Gajic, Milan, GWT
(tripping) 5:32; Wellar, Patrick, AK (roughing) 9:45; Metcalf, Peter,
AK (sla****ng) 10:41; York, Matt, GWT (sla****ng) 12:13; Desbiens,
Guillaume, GWT (charging) 14:33.
Shots on goal - AK 10-5-5 20; GWT 15-12-11 38.
Power plays - AK 3 of 7; GWT 2 of 10.
Penalties - AK 12 (27 min); GWT 10 (23 min).
Goalies - AK, Underhill, Matt 7-2 (60:00 minutes, 38 shots-34
saves); GWT, Fields, Sean 5-3 (58:44, 20-15) , EMPTY NET (01:16, 0-0).
Penalty shots - None.
A-6124 T-2:38
Three stars: 1. Underhill, Matt 2. Keith, Cam 3. Desbiens,
Guillaume
Referee:Joe Ernst Linesman:Paul Carnathan; Brad Phillips
Win-Underhill, Matt (7-2). Loss-Fields, Sean (5-3).
Kelly Cup Finals - Game 3
The Gwinnett Gladiators continue the 2006 ECHL Kelly Cup Finals on
Wednesday, May 31st at 7:35 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center for
Game 4 of the Kelly Cup Finals. The Gladiators offer several ticket
packages for different needs as well as group outings, suites and
birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to
gwinnettgladiators.com.
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