DULUTH, Ga. � Gwinnett�s Adam Smyth notched a goal and an assist to help the Gladiators to a 3-1 win over Mississippi in Game 4, knocking the Sea Wolves out of the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs by falling 3 games to 1 in the best-of-five American Conference Quarterfinals, in front of 2,882 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
With the win, Gwinnett advances to the American Conference Semifinals against a yet to be determined opponent.
�We didn�t quit,� Mississippi coach Bob Woods said. �We kept battling but got beat by a good hockey team. I think we were better than we showed in this series. It�s always tough to lose, but now we�ll have to turn our attention to our 10th Anniversary Season, which begins in October.�
Gwinnett (3-1) hit stride 8:29 into the first period. Mike Stathopoulos took advantage of an unsuccessful Sea Wolves clearing attempt and let go with a shot from the right circle beating goaltender Phil Sauve for his fifth goal of the 2005 Kelly Cup Playoffs. Smyth picked up the lone assist.
Gladiators built a 2-0 lead converting on a 3-on-1 break. Chris Durno finished it off by tallying his third of the postseason set up Rick Emmett and Kris Goodjohn at the 10:19 mark.
Mississippi (1-3) got on the scoreboard 1:35 into the second period. Mike Martone, who is the only remaining player from the Sea Wolves 1999 Kelly Cup Championship team, unleashed a shot from the right point getting by netminder Adam Berkhoel. Assists went to John Evangelista and Mike Garrow.
Midway through the third, Gwinnett added insurance on the power play. Smyth took a pass from Brad Schell in the slot and registered his second goal of the postseason at 10:05. Emmett also collected his second assist of the game.
Mississippi failed to score on six power play chances, while Gwinnett was successful on 1-of-7. Gladiators outshot the Sea Wolves 34-31.
Season ticket packages for 2005-06, the 10th Anniversary Season of the Sea Wolves, are on sale now by calling (228) 275-WOLF. Ask about the �Early Bird Special� for the biggest savings.
--- Box Score ---
SCORE BY PERIODS
Mississippi 0 1 0--1
Gwinnett 2 0 1--3
FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Gwinnett-Stathopoulos 4 (Smyth) 8:29. 2,
Gwinnett-Durno 3 (game winner) (Emmett; Goodjohn) 10:19. Penalties:
Cava, MIS (Slashing), 2:41. Jackson, GWT (Slashing), 6:09.
Battaglia, MIS (Tripping), 13:42.
SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 3, Mississippi-Martone 1 (Evangelista;
Garrow) 1:35. Penalties: Manson, GWT (Roughing), 9:57. Lisabeth, MIS
(Charging), 10:57. Vigilante, GWT (Roughing), 14:02. Brown, GWT
(Holding), 17:11.
THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 4, Gwinnett-Smyth 2 (power play) (Schell;
Emmett) 10:05. Penalties: Battaglia, MIS (Hooking), 0:37. Brown, GWT
(Tripping), 2:34. Ellis-Toddington, MIS (Holding), 2:57. Cava, MIS
(Cross checking), 8:18. Miller, MIS (Hooking), 11:44. Smyth, GWT
(Unsportsmanlike Cond), 11:44. Brown, GWT (Tripping), 14:29. Mastad,
MIS (Holding), 17:14.
SHOTS ON GOAL
Mississippi 6 14 11--31
Gwinnett 13 5 16--34
Power Play Conversions: Mississippi - 0 of 6, Gwinnett - 1 of 7.
Goalies: Mississippi-Sauve (34 shots, 31 saves; record: 1-3-0).
Gwinnett-Berkhoel (31 shots, 30 saves; record: 3-0-0).
A: 2882. Referee: Britt. Linesmen: Jones; Finley.
