The All-Star break gave the Gwinnett Gladiators a few days off and some time to practice for the Orlando Solar Bears this weekend. The Glads lost to the Solar Bears 4-3 in Orlando last Thursday. Matt Clune, the newest member of the team, had two assists in his debut with Gwinnett. Josh Currie scored two goals in the defeat, while goalie Mathieu Corbeil made 24 saves in his season debut.
It was an uphill climb for the Glads after falling behind 2-0 early in the first period. Gwinnett was outshot 16-5 in the opening frame but was able to close the gap through the final two periods, twice pulling within one goal. The Glads could never tie the game despite furious efforts in the waning moments.
ON THE DOCKET …
Gwinnett has two shots at Orlando to finish off the week at Gwinnett Arena. Results of Thursday night’s contest were not available at press time. The Glads will also host the SolarBears on Saturday before paying a visit to Orlando next Thursday. Five of their next seven outings are coming against Orlando, with a pair of meetings against Florida in between. Thos road games against the Everblades are back-to-back next Friday and Saturday.
The Gladiators have 33 points this season, trailing the Solar Bears by 14 points and division-leading South Carolina by 26 points. Although it looks like a long-shot for the Gladiators to make the playoffs, two wins against Orlando will help to close the gap. The Solar Bears currently hold the fifth overall spot in the ECHL’s Eastern Conference. This is what you would call a ‘do or die’ situation for the Glads.
GOALIE ADDED …
Goalies Mathieu Coreil and Scott Stajcer were both assigned to Gwinnett last week. Coreil was moved from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League and Stajcer was moved from the New York Rangers to the AHL’s Hartford Wolfpack before getting the call to Gwinnett. The 22-year old Stajcer has been moved several times this year between the AHL and the ECHL, starting eight games with rival Greenville, two with Florida and eight in AHL Hartford. Coreil, a 2010 fourth- round draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, started three games for Utah. In his first game with the Glads, Coreil stopped 24 of 28 shots against Orlando.
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