The Gwinnett Gladiators open play this week with a four-point lead in the South Division of the ECHL’s Eastern Conference after earning four-points in a pair of wins over the Greenville Road Warriors this past weekend.
This Week’s Game Schedule:
Thursday, 2/9: 7:05 p.m. vs. Florida Everblades
Saturday, 2/11: 7:05 p.m. vs. Chicago Express
Sunday, 2/12: 4:04 p.m. vs. Kalamazoo Wings
All games will be at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
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After Saturday’s win over the Road Warriors, the Glads have now won 10 consecutive games on the home ice of the Arena at Gwinnett Center. Gwinnett has not lost at the Arena since December 30th when they came up short by a 3-1 score. The winning streak is the longest in Gwinnett team history and also the longest in the history of the organization. The previous organizational record was nine by the Mobile Mysticks. (The Mysticks moved to Gwinnett for the 2003-04 season.)
Florida Everblades Preview:
The Gladiators (25-12-7-3/60 pts.) are 7-2-2-0 against the division rival Everblades this season. Florida (22-20-2-3/49 pts.) is in last place in the South, 11 points behind the division leading Glads. Players to watch for the Gladiators are Nikita Kashirsky, Andy Brandt and Pat Galivan. Kashirsky has 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists) against the Blades this season while Brandt and Galivan have each scored four against Florida.
Chicago Express Preview:
This will be only the second matchup with the Express this season. In the only other contest, the Glads won 3-2 in a shootout. Chicago (22-17-5-2/51 pts.) enters the week on a five-game winning streak and in second place in the North Division. Tyler Donati is the guy to watch for the Express. He is the team’s top scorer with 48 points (12 goals, 36 assists) in the 2011-12 campaign.
Kalamazoo Wings Preview:
Kalamazoo follows North Division rival Chicago in a Sunday afternoon matchup at the Arena. The Glads and Wings have not faced off this season. Kalamazoo leads the North and is third overall in the Eastern Conference with 55 points (25-15-2-3) this season. Trent Daavettila is the Wings leader with 44 points this season and is also tops for his club in plus/minus ranking with a +9.
Notes:
Streaking: Forward Nikita Kashirsky has scored at least one point in ten consecutive games and has 11 points (four goals, 7 assists) during the streak. The longest point scoring run in the ECHL this season has been 15 games by Eric Lampe of the Las Vegas Wranglers.
Another Streak: Forward Pat Galivan pushed his own point-scoring streak to nine games, just one behind Kashirsky current streak of 10. In his last nine games, Galivan has 11 points including putting the game away on Saturday with his fifth-round shootout goal.
Upcoming Event: Sunday, February 12th is Kroger Family Fun Night. Fans can get four Premium/Corner Level tickets, a Kroger Family Meal Deal and a $5 merchandise coupon for only $50! Get all the details online at www.gwinnettgladaitors.com
The Gwinnett Gladiators are members of the South Division of the ECHL (the Premier “AA” Hockey League) and have affiliation agreements for player placement and development with both the Phoenix Coyotes and the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
The Gladiators play home games at the 11,355 seat Arena at Gwinnett, located off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
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