The Gwinnett Gladiators erupted for three goals in the third period to knock off the Greenville Road Warriors 3-1 Tuesday night at the BI-LO Center. It was the first win in Greenville for the Gladiators since January 14, 2011, a span of 11 games.
 
With their fourth victory in a row Gwinnett (34-17-7-4) increased their lead atop the South Division and Eastern Conference over the Warriors (36-21-2-2). Ryan Zapolski was stellar between the pipes for Gwinnett turning aside 34 of 35 shots, while Jason Missiaen made 29 saves in a losing effort.
 
Bryan Brutlag opened the scoring for Gwinnett trailing 1-0 in the third at the 4:06 mark on the man advantage, dancing through the Greenville defense to the low slot and beating Missiaen blocker side to draw the Gladiators even. Brutlag’s 18th of the season was assisted by Justin Milo and Tyler Murovich, and Gwinnett wouldn’t look back.
 
Andy Brandt put the Gladiators up for good at 7:24, rifling a low wrister through the five-hole of Missiaen from the far circle with assists to Jonathan Parker and Will Colbert for what would prove to be the game-winner.
 
Dallas Jackson would then ice the game joining late on a two-on-one rush and blasting another shot through the legs of 6’8” Missiaen to cap the 3-1 win. Brutlag and Paul Flache had the helpers on Jackson’s seventh tally of the campaign.
 
Both teams went 1-for-4 on the power play on the night.
 
The lone goal of the first period came off a rebound chance on the man advantage for the Warriors, as Blake Parlett’s first of the season made it 1-0 Greenville through 20 minutes.
 
The scored stayed at 1-1 through the second as well, with shots even at 21-21.
 
The Gladiators are next in action Saturday March 10th at 7:05 p.m. as they take on the Cincinnati Cyclones at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.