Gwinnett Gladiators Back in First Again

The Gwinnett Gladiators overcame a three-goal deficit to win in regulation for the first time in team history Sunday (March 4) afternooon as they knocked off the Trenton Titans for the third time this season 5-4 and regained first place in the Eastern Conference of the ECHL with 77 points (33-17-7-4). 

Early in the opening period, Gladiator forward Nikita Kashirsky carried the puck through the Trenton defense to find an open spot in the high slot before beating Trenton netminder Dave Caruso to give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead just 36 seconds after the puck was dropped. Captain Paul Flache and Will Colbert collected the helpers in the first marker. 

Trenton answered the Gladiators with a goal 33 seconds after Gwinnett’s marker to tie the game 1-1. Forward Kelly Miller beat Gladiator netminder Joe Palmer for the tally at the 1:09 mark of the first. Gentry Zollars and Steve Silva had the assists.

Andy Bohmbach, Trenton’s leading scorer beat Palmer over the shoulder at 10:33 to give the Titans a 2-1 advantage. Bill McCreary found Bohmbach for the marker. Gladiator goaltender Ryan Zapolski replaced Palmer after the second goal. 

The Titians put the Gladiators into a 3-1 deficit at 17:17 with a powerplay goal from forward Dustin Cameron. Cameron sniped the puck over Zapolski’s shoulder at the top of the circle. Adam Presizniuk and Ray DiLauro picked up the helpers. 

At 3:30 into the second period, Trenton collected another goal to give them a 4-1 advantage. Forward Randy Rowe had the marker. Silva notched his second assist on the night and defenseman Tyler Hostetter had the other helper. 

Down 4-1, the Gladiators rattled off four straight goals to post the 5-4 comeback win. Defenseman Steve Mallaro scored his first goal as a Gladiator just inside the blue line to start the Gladiators comeback and get the Gladiators back within a goal. Jonathan Parker and Andy Brandt had the assists. 

Gwinnett cut the deficit to one on Bryan Brutlag 17th goal of the season.  Brutlag picked up the second rebound to jam it behind Caruso to make the score 4-3 and extend his point-scoring streak to six games. Parker and Kashisrky each had an assist setting up Brutlag’s marker.

On the Gladiators third power play of the game at 19:08 of the second, Parker found Kashirsky at the point for a one-timer to tie the game 4-4. Parker picked up his third straight assist and Brandt had his second helper on the night on the tying goal.

Defenseman Corey Fienhage posted the game-winner for the Gladiators at 15:40 into the final period. Pat Galivan and Murovich helped Fienhage to his fifth goal of the season. 

Sunday's game was the final in the Pink in the Rink Weekend at the . The Gladiators will head to Greenville to take on division rival the Road Warriors at the Bi-Lo Center Tuesday (March 6) night at 7:35 p.m.

(Editor's note: This game report provided by the Gwinnett Gladiators.)