Gladiators stung by 'Rays 3-2

DULUTH -- The Gwinnett Gladiators dropped a heart breaking 3-2 outcome to division rival South Carolina in their opening contest of a three-game holiday homestand at The Arena at Gwinnett Center on Tuesday night. Twice the Gladiators rallied from one-goal deficits, but the Stingrays proved too powerful in the closing moments of the game, scoring with just over one minute remaining to doom Gwinnett, who fell in regulation to the Stingrays for the first time all season.

The teams skated at a somewhat lackluster pace through the first 20 minutes with each side showing only short spurts of energy here and there. South Carolina put 13 shots on newly signed Gwinnett goaltender David Brown, and the Gladiators sent 11 South Carolina's way, but neither team managed to light up the scoreboard before the first intermission. The Gladiators were unable to capitalize on an extended power play when Stingray forward Matt Fornatero went off on a double minor for cross checking and unsportsmanlike conduct at 14:25 of the period.

The Stingrays broke the scoreless tie at 8:27 of the second period on a power play goal after Brian Kaufman was sent off for holding. A redirected puck off the stick of South Carolina's Johan Kroll was just out of reach of David Brown, and Michael Dubuc was there to tap it into the gaping net for his fifth goal of the season and a 1-0 Stingrays lead.

But the Gladiators quickly erased that lead just 2:40 later, as Sam Roberts jammed home a pass from Adam Berti at the doorstep after an effective cycle play behind the South Carolina net. Drew Paris was also credited with an assist.

The pace of the game changed in a hurry once a couple goals were on the board.

The Gladiators poured the pressure, throwing nine shots on goal in the final seven minutes of the period, but couldn't sneak another one past Stingray goaltender Braden Holtby, and nearly gave up a breakaway goal to South Carolina rookie sensation Nikita Kashirski with less than two minutes in the period, but Brown swept away the puck just before it trickled across the goal line to maintain the 1-1 tie.

Shots at the end of the second frame were 24-21 in favor of South Carolina.

The Stingrays again broke the tie, taking their second lead of the game just 43 seconds into the third when an odd deflection landed on the stick of Spencer Carberry, who wristed a rising shot over the glove of an unsuspecting David Brown, bringing the score to 2-1. Matt Scherer and Johann Kroll picked up assists on the play.

The Gladiators again erased the Stingray's one-goal lead, scoring their first power play goal at home since a November 7th loss to Kalamazoo. Pat Galivan was in the right spot at the right time, taking a rebound off of an Adam Berti shot from the right faceoff dot and casually depositing a shot into the back of the net from the top of the crease. South Carolina's Dylan Yeo had gone off for cross-checking at 11:41.

The squads played stride for stride until the final minute of play, when the Stingrays took the lead for good with just 1:01 remaining in regulation. Spencer Carbery skated in from the left boards and unleashed a wrist shot from the just above the hash marks. Brown made the initial save, but Carbery picked up his own rebound and snuck a second shot past Brown for the Stingrays' third and final lead of the game.

The Gladiators fall to 8-4-1-1 and fail to make up more ground on the Stingrays (10-6-1-3), who extend their South Division lead to four points ahead of idle Charlotte.

David Brown finished with 37 saves in his season debut with the Gladiators, and Adam Berti registered two assists to lead the Gladiators. Spencer Carbery notched two goals, including the winning tally, and Jason Kroll had two assists to lead the Stingrays. South Carolina goaltender Braden Holtby had 34 saves in the win.

The Gladiators were without two of their top forwards, Brad Schell and Scott Mifsud, who were out with minor injuries.

The Gladiators continue divisional play at home against the Charlotte Checkers for a holiday match up on Thanksgiving night, Thursday, November 26th, with a start time at 7:05 p.m.