Gladiators Still in First With Win Over Cyclones

Netminder Ryan Zapolski led the Gwinnett Gladiators to a 2-0 shutout over the Cincinnati Cyclones in front of a roaring Saturday (March 11) night crowd of 7,829 at the in Duluth.

Forward David Brownschidle broke a scoreless tie and collected his second goal as a Gladiator late in the first period. At the 18:40 mark, Justin Milo directed the puck to the front of the net where Brownschidle corralled a rebound in the slot and beat Cincinnati netminder Chet Pickard under the leg pad to give Gwinnett a 1-0 lead. Jordan Foreman had the other assist on the marker which was his first point as a Gladiator.

Gwinnett took a 2-0 lead on the Cyclones at 12:40 of the second period on Nikita Kashirsky’s 14th goal of the season.  Paul Flache kept the play alive at the Cincinnati blue line feeding the puck down the wing to Jonathan Parker.  A quick shot by Parker was kicked aside by Pickard to a waiting Kashirsky who jammed is past the goaltender the marker. The Gladiators held the two-goal advantage over the Cyclones to end the period. 

Zapolski finished with 30 saves to earn his second shutout of the season and second against Cincinnati this year. With their second straight shutout over the Cyclones, the Gladiators have notched a league high seven shutouts this season. 

In the defensive win, Gwinnett remains in first place of the South Division with 81 points (35-17-7-4) on the season. 

The Gladiators return to the Arena at Gwinnett Center Sunday (March 12) afternoon to host the Greenville Road Warriors at 4:05 p.m.

(Editor's note: This game report provided by the Gwinnett Gladiators.)