It wasn't a typical Saturday for Craig "K-Wall" Kowalski.

The Gladiators' goaltender started the day by blocking point-blank shots fired at him by teammates during a morning practice at Gwinnett Arena. In the middle he watched from the bench as Dan Turple started in goal against the Charlotte Checkers. His evening concluded by signing autographs at a local sports establishment.

It was a well-deserved night off for Kowalski, who concluded the regular season "having done everything we could have asked of him," Gwinnett coach Jeff Pyle said. "And at times, even more. K-Wall is a gamer and has done a great job being a leader on and off the ice."

Grateful for the season-long, congratulatory cheers that have resounded throughout the Arena, the 5-foot-9, 190 pound Kowalski, from Clinton Township, Mich., is looking forward to returning to work Tuesday when the Gladiators begin the opening round of the ECHL Kelly Cup playoffs at Gwinnett Arena.

"The playoffs are all about sacrifice," said Kowalski, an eighth-round draft choice of the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2000 NHL draft. You can't make the same mistakes in April and May that you did in the middle of January. You do, and you go home."

Kowalski finished the season with a 29-11-2 record, a 2.33 goals against average and a .923 save percentage. He had two shutouts.

In his four appearances with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch this season, Kowalski compiled a 2-1-0- record (one shutout), a .906 save percentage and a 2.36 GAA.

His stellar play in net this season earned Kowalski ECHL goalie of the week honors and his being selected as a starter for the American Conference all-star team. Last week, he was named to the all-ECHL second team.

Kowalski, who signed with the Gladiators during the off-season after spending three seasons with the Florida Everblades, is no stranger to the Kelly Cup playoffs.

He started 16 playoff games (10-6-0) for the Everblades last season, leading them to the American Conference finals, where they lost to the Dayton Bombers in seven games. During the 2004-05 playoffs, Kowalski went 3-0 for the Everblades that lost to the Trenton Devils in the Kelly Cup finals.

He was with the Hurricanes when the Gladiators defeated the Everblades in their best-of-five division semifinal series during the 2005-06 playoffs.

"I've been looking forward to the playoffs for the past three months," said Kowalski, who will start in goal against the Charlotte Checkers in Game 1 of the best-of-five division quarterfinals.

"To me, the playoffs are the most exciting time of the hockey season. It's a time when you get rejuvenated as a player. You remember the players who were part of a team that was playing in May. I'd rather be playing 72 playoff games and 20 regular season games."

The Gladiators begin their quest for the Kelly Cup after finishing third in the South Division behind the first-place Texas Wildcatters and the second-place South Carolina Stingrays. That same quest ended prematurely last season when the then-defending American Conference champions lost to the Wildcatters in the opening round.

"As a goalie, how you play during playoff time can make or break a team," Kowalski said.

KEYS TO VICTORY

DISCIPLINED GLADIATORS

Being disciplined against the Charlotte Checkers is paramount to advancing to the second round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. The Checkers play a physical style, while the Gladiators' strengths are skill and speed. It will be a short series for Gwinnett if it takes the bait and finds itself killing off unnecessary penalties.

PROTECTING THE GOALIE

In the Gladiators' 5-3 loss to the Checkers last week, Gwinnett goalie Craig Kowalski received little help in front of the net. The beleaguered goalie tried to stop all 57 shots. Dan Turple made 34 saves in the Gladiators' 4-1 win Saturday. Advantage Charlotte if Gwinnett's defense abandons Kowalski or Turple.

SPECIAL TEAMS MUST PRODUCE

The Gladiators' vaunted power play is ranked second in the league with a 21.5 percent success rate. The Checkers are 20th in the league when it comes to their power play. Gwinnett's penalty killing unit is ranked first —- 87 percent —- while Charlotte's penalty killing unit is ninth. Whoever takes advantage of the other team's mistakes advances to the division semifinals.

—- Andrew Adler

PLAYERS TO WATCH

GLADIATORS

Forwards Lou Dickenson and Guilluame Desbiens missed the final three games of the regular season because of injuries, but they are both expected to be back in time for the playoffs. A healthy Dickenson adds much-needed offense as his team-high 28 goals attests. Desbiens has proven, since being reassigned to the Gladiators by the Chicago Wolves in March, that he can take the pounding in front the net.

CHARLOTTE CHECKERS

Center Blake Bellefeuille and forward Chris Capraro have totaled eight points each against the Gladiators in nine games this season. Both Bellefeuille and Capraro have been thorns in the side of Gwinnett with their four goals and four assists.

No. 3 GWINNETT VS.

No. 6 CHARLOTTE

> Game 1: Tuesday @ Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m.

> Game 2: Thursday @ Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m.

> Game 3: Saturday @ Charlotte, 7 p.m.

> Game 4: April 14 @ Charlotte, 7:30 p.m. (if necessary)

> Game 5: April 15 @ Gwinnett, 7:05 p.m. (if necessary)

Gwinnett Gladiators

44-23-5, 93 points, third place South Division

Charlotte Checkers

34-31-7, 75 points, sixth place South Division

Head to Head, Regular Season

> Charlotte 1 @ Gwinnett 4, April 5

> Charlotte 5 @ Gwinnett 3, April 1

> Gwinnett 6 @ Charlotte 2, March 21

> Gwinnett 3 @ Charlotte 4, March 4

> Gwinnett 4 @ Charlotte 5 (OT), Jan. 17

> Gwinnett 3 @ Charlotte 5, Dec. 20, 2007

> Gwinnett 5 @ Charlotte 1, Dec. 13, 2007

> Charlotte 2 @ Gwinnett 3 (SO), Nov. 24, 2007

> Charlotte 1 @ Gwinnett 3, Nov. 4, 2007