� Gwinnett�s Kris Goodjohn scored a dramatic series-winning goal at 7:22 of overtime to give the Gladiators a 2-1 win over the Mississippi Sea Wolves in Game 5, taking the Central Division Semifinals 3 games to 2.
�It�s tough to take,� Sea Wolves coach Bob Woods said. �It�s not easy to lose, but we got beat by a good hockey team. We had our chances. This is tough to swallow. I�m proud of the guys, but disappointed for them and the our fans. There are other good teams that are out now of the Kelly Cup Playoffs as well. The continuity throughout the ECHL is great for the fans.�
For the second straight game, the Sea Wolves were playing without their captain Steffon Walby, due to a torn muscle in his right knee.
Mississippi struck first on the power play at the 14:54 mark. Sergei Kuznetsov was stopped by Gladiators goaltender Michael Garnett from the low left circle, but Travis Lisabeth deposited his second goal of the postseason on the rebound to make it 1-0 for the Sea Wolves. Anthony Battaglia also chipped in with a helper.
Gwinnett peppered eight shots on Sea Wolves goaltender Greg Gardner, who turned in his fourth straight period of shutout hockey.
In the second, the Gladiators fired 11 shots on net seeking the equalizer. Steve Slonina busted in on a breakaway midway through the period, but Gardner robbed him with a huge glove save.
The Sea Wolves had opportunities in the middle stanza as well. Andrew Proskurnicki put a centering pass on target, only to be denied by Garnett. Mississippi held a 1-0 goal lead and 22-19 shots advantage through 40 minutes.
Gwinnett solved Gardner on its 27th shot. Tyler Deis tallied his first goal of the playoffs with less than seven minutes remaining in the third, assisted by Troy Milam and Joe Bourne.
Gladiators had a two-on-one break in the dying minute of regulation. Chris Durno feathered a pass across to Goodjohn but Gardner made a huge save to send the game to overtime.
In overtime, Goodjohn scored from the slot to propel the Gladiators to the Central Division Finals.
Mississippi converted on 1-of-5 power play opportunities, while Gwinnett failed to score on three chances with the man advantage. Gladiators outshot the Sea Wolves 36-31.
Sea Wolves season tickets for 2004-05 are on sale. Reserve your seat with a $25 deposit by calling (228) 275-WOLF.
--- Box Score ---
DATE - 04/14/04 Gwinnett (2) at Mississippi (1) OT
SCORE BY PERIODS
Gwinnett 0 0 1 1--2
Mississippi 1 0 0 0--1
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Mississippi-Lisabeth 2 (power play)
(Kuznetsov; Battaglia) 14:54. Penalties: Bourne, GWT (Holding),
13:05. Bennefield, GWT (Cross checking), 16:17. O'Rourke, MIS
(Interference), 19:46.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: Blais, MIS (Tripping),
4:02. Doell, GWT (Hooking), 7:12. Deis, GWT (Slashing), 7:39. Blais,
MIS (Roughing), 7:39. O'Rourke, MIS (Roughing), 10:49. Emmett, GWT
(Cross checking), 15:21.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Gwinnett-Deis 1 (Bourne; Milam) 13:02.
Penalties: Garnett, GWT served by Deis (Roughing), 3:03.
OVERTIME -- Scoring: 3, Gwinnett-Goodjohn 3 (game winner) (Swinson;
Durno) 7:22. Penalties: None.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Gwinnett 8 11 12 5--36
Mississippi 11 11 7 2--31
Power Play Conversions: Gwinnett - 0-of-3, Mississippi - 1-of-5.
Goalies: Gwinnett-Garnett (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 3-2-0).
Mississippi-Gardner (36 shots, 34 saves; record: 2-1-2).
A: 2186. Referee: T. Smith Linesmen: Finley; Ross.
