AGs Down Strokes

The American Gladiators defeated Diff'rent Strokes (Teal) 5-3 in a tough, physical contest on Wednesday night at the MSA.  Gladiator netminder Joe Renfro had another solid performance (29 saves, .906 SV%) and Red captain Rob Lovaglio led the offensive charge with a 4-point performance (3G, 1A, including 1 shortie and the game-winner).

The Gladiators scored first when Lovaglio connected with winger Kevin Murray who lifted a shot past Strokes' goalie Jim Toth at 13:49.  Less than three minutes later, Lovaglio would beat Toth with assists going to defenseman Ryan Miller and Murray.  With 5:43 left in the period, Tom Osinkosky danced his way through a pair of defenders and punched a shot past Toth to put the Gladiators up 3-0.  Osinkosky was assisted by blueliner Dalton Ford and winger Bryan Slaughter.

The second period saw back-and-forth rushes, punctuated with outstanding goaltending on both ends of the ice.  Early in the period, the Strokes had an opportunity with a penalty shot when it was ruled that Red defenseman Ford hooked Teal forward Tommy Harison, Jr. on a breakaway.  Renfro stymied Harrison on the PS.  At 7:51 of the second, the Strokes did manage to slip a low shot past Renfro on the longside.  Red answered back at 5:22 with a pretty stretch breakout from Ford to Murray, up to Lovaglio, who wristed a shot that trickled in past Toth on the shortside.  The second period ended 4-1 in favor of the Gladiators.

Teal came out flying in the third and scored on a PP opportunity at 9:53.  The Strokes scored again at 6:33 when DS defenseman Scott Smith wristed a shot from the blueline that pinballed off two teammates' legs and past Renfro.  With a one-goal lead, the AGs saw themselves one man down for the final 90 seconds after a questionable elbowing/roughing call.  On a Teal rush into the offensive zone, Ford poke checked the puck carrier and sent the puck up to Lovaglio who skated to the top of the opponent's circle and cranked a wicked slapper that beat Toth blocker-side, ending the game 5-3.

The Gladiators take on T.J. Hooker (White) on Sunday, March 11th at 6:30PM at the MSA.