ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland Growlers kicked off their four-game homestand in style Friday night at Mile One Centre with a 5-3 win over the Atlanta Gladiators.
Samuel Asselin, the reigning ECHL Player of the Week, opened the scoring with 8:39 to play in the opening period after capitalizing on a cross-crease pass on a shot Maksim Zhukov couldn’t get enough of to put the Gladiators ahead 1-0. Scott Pooley responded with 3:47 left in the first period showing off his baseball skills and batting the puck out of mid-air and behind Sean Bonar, on a play that needed video review but was deemed a good goal to tie the game at 1-1.
Zach O’Brien gave the Growlers a late first-period lead after slapping home a one-time pass from Marcus Power for a 2-1 game after the opening 20 minutes.
Atlanta tied the game just 28 seconds into the second period as Luke Nogard was wide open in front of the net and banged a rebound past Zhukov, but Justin Brazeau needed only 50 seconds to restore the Growlers lead after sniping a wrister off the crossbar and in for a 3-2 game.
Joseph Duszak doubled the lead at 8:26 of the second period firing home his second of the season to send the Growlers to the dressing room up 4-2 after 40 minutes.
Scott Pooley rifled his second of the night at 9:01 of the third period for a 5-2 game, and Josh Thrower responded with 55 seconds left in the game, but thatwas as close as Atlanta would come as the Growlers took a 5-3 victory.
Quick Hits: Alex Gudbranson made his season debut… Scott Pooley extended his point streak to nine games… The three stars were 3 – J. Duszak (NFL), 2 – Z. O’Brien (NFL) and 1 – S. Pooley (NFL)
What’s Next: The Newfoundland Growlers continue their four-game homestand Saturday night in a rematch against the Atlanta Gladiators, ECHL affiliate of the Boston Bruins. Puck drop is 7 p.m. Newfoundland Time (5:30 p.m. Eastern Time).
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