Shorthanded goals doom Orlando to 3-1 loss

DULUTH, Georgia — The Gladiators tallied shorthanded goals in the first and second periods as the Solar Bears fell to the Gladiators by a 3-1 score at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Thursday night.

The Gladiators jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a shorthanded goal at 9:14 of the first period. F Joey Haddad forced a turnover at his own blue line, raced to the loose puck and lifted a backhand shot past G Christopher Gibson. Orlando answered on the same power play when D Bryce Aneloski fired a shot that was deflected into the back of the net by F Kory Nagy to tie the game 1-1. Haddad potted his second of the game with 8:30 left in the period when he deflected a shot from D Rob Kwiet into the top corner as Gwinnett took a 2-1 lead into the second frame.

The lone goal of the second period also came from a shorthanded opportunity. After Gibson turned aside a shorthanded breakaway attempt, F Evan Bloodoff stole the puck for Gwinnett and fed F Dirk Southern on a 2-on-1. Southern snapped the puck inside the left post as Gwinnett gathered a 3-1 lead over Orlando heading towards the final frame.

Neither side struck in the third period, as Gladiators G Mathieu Corbeil stopped 27 shots through the second and third periods to lead the Gladiators to the 3-1 win.

Three Stars: 1. J. Haddad (GWT); 2. M. Corbeil (GWT); 3. D. Southern (GWT)
Power Plays: ORL: 0/6; GWT: 0/2
Shots: ORL: 32; GWT: 23

Notes:
The Solar Bears fell to the Gladiators in regulation for the first time this season, and are now 5-1-0-2 against Gwinnett this year... Tonight's game was the first time this season that the Solar Bears have played a Thursday night road game... F Jacob Cepis had his three game point streak (3 goals, 2 assists) snapped... Both D Bryce Aneloski and D Cody Wild are on three game point streaks... Tonight's game marked the first time the Solar Bears have lost in regulation when outshooting an opponent on the road (3-1-0-2).

WFTV