ESTERO, Fl – Sometimes nearly-perfect is not enough to win a hockey game, especially when the opponent is the resourceful Florida Everblades. The Gwinnett Gladiators played a strong, agitating, defensive game for over two periods and had used their opportunities to pull out to a 2-0 lead over the heavily-favored Everblades. However a mental lapse late in the game gave the host Florida team a chance which they capitalized upon to set up overtime. By then Gwinnett’s magic had worn off and Florida’s Jacob Micflikier bombed in a shot from the right circle past Gladiators goaltender Josh Johnson for the win. Gwinnett appeared to have things well in hand through the first forty minutes plus of play. Just a little over six minutes into the game Gwinnett’s Tom Zanoski picked off an errant Everblades pass and beat Florida net minder David Leggio on a clear breakaway. With Johnson holding firm Brandon Kaleniecki doubled the Gladiators advantage. Kaleniecki’s power play goal was set up by the persistence of Florida defender A.J. Thelan. Seconds earlier the Everblades had killed of a five-on-three advantage caused in part by Thelan’s cross-checking penalty. Apparently unsatisfied with a positive result, Thelan was then sent away for roughing, a penalty converted upon by Gwinnett. It was late in the second period when Gwinnett began to open the door for Florida to make a comeback. Florida’s Milan Gajic got open for a breakaway, but was taken down by a Gladiators defender and was awarded a penalty shot at the 13:47 mark. Although he was unsuccessful with that attempt, Gajic did find the range when he tapped in a carom off the backboards from Peter Metcalfe’s shot. The goal, which came just a minute into the third period, was set up by a Matt Siddall interference call. Like Thelan earlier in the game, Siddall had just finished serving a penalty–in this instance–slashing, when seconds later he was cited again, this time for interference. Gwinnett held the lead until the Gladiators made a mental mistake by getting caught with too many men on the ice with less than two minutes to play in regulation. ECHL MVP Kevin Baker made the Gladiators pay for their sin when he fired a puck past Johnson at the 18:39 mark of the third. Each team had chances to win the contest in regulation, but neither did and the game went into overtime. For as long as they play this season the Gladiators will never forget their blown opportunities in this overtime period. Gwinnett had not one power play chance, but two, they could not capitalize upon to snatch victory on enemy ice. Finally Micflikier ended the game when he accepted a pass from Metcalfe and blasted a shot past Johnson to finish his team’s three-goal rally. With Florida up two games to none the series will move to Georgia where the Gladiators will host the Everblades on Thursday, April 16. Game four is set for the next evening and, if necessary, the two clubs will skate again on Sunday.
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