ECHL: Gladiators take down Everblades in shootout

The Gwinnett Gladiators stormed back from an early two-goal deficit to pull out a 4-3 shootout win at TECO Arena, and set the stage for what should be an even more intense game tonight.

Kevin Doell and Anthony Aquino scored for Gwinnett (4-1-1) in the shootout after neither team could convert in the five-minute, 4-on-4 overtime. Gladiators goalie Michael Garnett stoned all four Everblades shooters, although Brent McDonald never got off a shot after he mishandled the puck.

Florida (4-1-1) still managed to salvage one point in the standings for ending regulation in a 3-3 tie. But they will take the ice tonight at 7:30 with a short bench after suffering some costly injuries.

Right wing and leading scorer Keith Anderson (injured hamstring, did not return in third period) was the most serious of the injuries.

"I don't want to make excuses, that was a good hockey game," said Everblades coach Gerry Fleming. "They've got a good game, they skate well and they kept pressing and pressing and pressing and got the late goal."

That late goal was scored by Gwinnett's Kris Goodjohn with 5:52 left in the game, his second of the night. Mike Vigilante scored the other goal for the Gladiators.

The Everblades scored 28 seconds apart in the first period, with Anderson and Peter Reynolds converting.

Rookie Chad Larose restored the two-goal lead 6:26 into the second period.

Defenseman Ian Forbes, who stands 6-foot-6, 230 pounds, was challenged twice on the ice and won both of his fights, although the second one with Gladiators 34-year-old captain Cam Brown was a close one.

Coalter got physical as did Jared Newman and Gwinnett's Blue Bennefield.

"It was a physical game and the refs came out to make a point," Coalter said. "I think there were some questionable calls both ways and it interrupted the flow for both sides, but you still have to the play the game."

NOTES: Boston Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe attended the game with his wife and kids, taking in the action from one of the suites. Lowe, who owns a home in Fort Myers, said he returned to Southwest Florida 10 days ago after Boston lost Game 7 of the ALCS to the New York Yankees. He said he will start working out Monday in preparation for the 2004 season, but used Friday to enjoy trick or treating with his kids. "I always love coming to back to this area," Lowe said. "Especially when the weather's this nice." ... Everblades forward Stu Pietersma said he was surprised when Fleming told him Thursday he had been suspended for one game by the league for his fight in the third period of last Friday's game against Louisiana. "It was a marginal call by the league but you have to abide by it," Pietersma said.