Wednesday night, the Atlanta Gladiators had a shutout win against the Jacksonville Icemen at home but were now facing two back-to-back home games against the Florida Everblades. The starting lineup for the Atlanta Gladiators included Zach Yoder(D), Griffin Luce (D), Carson Gicewicz (F), Josh Boyer (F), and Jackson Pierson (F). Tyler Harmon (G), Mitch Fossier (F), and Jay Powell (D) are listed on Injured Reserve for Atlanta.
Between the Pipes:
ATLANTA – Josh Boyko
FLORIDA – Cam Johnson
Period 1
Oliver Chau was entangled by a Gladiator, allowing Atlanta to aim for the goal. Reece Vitelli took a shot at Johnson, but Cam Johnson deflected it. Josh Boyer attempted a shot, but it hit a skate and missed the target. The Everblades aimed a shot at Boyko, who managed to glove the shot. Pendenza also tried to get the puck past Boyko, but he saved it. Following a hooking penalty on Griffin Luce, the Gladiators went on the penalty kill as Luce headed to the sin bin. Boyko blocked two shots from Florida, with one rebounding loose before he caught it to halt the play. The team returned to full strength.
From the center line, Florida fires on but is blocked by Boyko. The Everblades snagged the puck and fed it down to Atlanta’s end of the ice. The Everblades get the first goal after it just tips above Boyko’s shoulder into the net. Zach Uens is credited with the goal, putting Florida up 1-0 (11:16). Josh Ho-Sang and Zach Berzolla are credited with the assist. Carson Denomie was sent to the box for tripping, and we headed back to the penalty kill once more. The Gladiators got a nice clear after Florida continued to put pressure on Boyko. We returned to full strength with no change in score.
Boyko blocked another goal attempt as Florida continued to pressure Atlanta’s goal. Following this, Josh Boyer fired the puck at Johnson and was met with a cross-check, but no penalty was given. Ho-Sang then takes a powerful shot during an odd-man rush, only to be stopped decisively by Boyko. We close the first period with Florida ahead by 1-0.
Period 1 – Shots on Goal:
ATLANTA – 6
FLORIDA – 15
Period 2
Bobo Carpenter takes a shot on goal, securing a point for the Everblades and advancing the score to 2-0 at 6:28, assisted by Ben Brar. Subsequently, Parker AuCoin successfully delivers the puck into the net, earning the Gladiators their first goal, bringing the score to 2-1 at 9:49, with Reece Vitelli providing the assist.
Bobo Carpenter was penalized for charging the goaltender and was subsequently sent to the penalty box. Shortly after, Boyko received a tripping penalty at 16:23. Despite the penalty, the Everblades maintained their lead at 2-1 after successfully defending against the power play.
Period 2 – Shots on Goal:
ATLANTA – 10
FLORIDA – 10
Period 3
The Everblades score early in the period as Cole Molberg gets one past Boyko. Joe Pendenza and Riese Zmolek assisted in the goal, putting the Everblades ahead 3-1 within 30 seconds. The Gladiators attempted a shot on net, but Johnson made a blocker-side save. Another shot from the Gladiators missed the net. The Everblades then attempted to capitalize on Atlanta’s net, with Boyko making a diving save. Robbie Calisti is penalized for holding, sending the Gladiators on the penalty kill.
Micah Miller fired at the net, but the Everblades managed to force the puck out of the zone. Gicewicz attempted a wrap-around shot, sparking excitement among the fans, but the linesman waved off the potential goal. The play went under review. Meanwhile, Bobo Carpenter is penalized for goaltender interference, resulting in a 4-on-4 situation. The call stands after review – no goal.
We were back at full strength and on the powerplay for the Gladiators, with Carpenter still in the penalty box. Prokop attempted a shot on goal, then AuCoin followed suit, narrowly missing the target. In a counterattack, the Everblades seized an opportunity for an odd-man rush, but Boyko blocked the shot as the net dislodged from its position.
Miller fed the puck to AuCoin, but it was stripped away. The Everblades find themselves back in the sin bin after Evan Nurse is called for tripping, sending the Gladiators on the powerplay. With the man advantage, Denomie made a shot on the net but missed. We returned to full strength with no change in score.
Right off the faceoff, the Gladiators gain possession of the puck and swiftly shoot at Johnson, who skillfully made the save. Later, the Gladiators fired again on the net, but Johnson made the stop. The Gladiators beat their way to the puck and tried to force it into the net, but Johnson made another stop.
The Everblades made the wrap-around attempt, but Boyko denied them. The Gladiators Miller fed it to the other end and fired on, but Johnson made the stop once more. Then, after Bobo Carpenter fired it on the net and was denied, and the Mutter gets called for slashing sending them on the penalty kill.
Boyko was pulled from the net to give the Gladiators the extra man. Off the draw, the Everblades acquired the puck and fired on the empty net but missed. Then, after reclaiming the puck, Mark Senden shot the puck and made the empty-net goal, bringing the score to 4-1 in favor of Florida. Ho-Sang and Sean Josling get the credit for the assist.
The Atlanta Gladiators fell to the Florida Everblades 4-1 in regulation.
Period 3 – Shots on Goal:
ATLANTA – 10
FLORIDA – 10
Three Stars of the Game:
1. FLA – C. Johnson
2. FLA – J. Ho-Sang
3. ATL – J. Boyko
The Atlanta Gladiators will be wrapping up their home stand with the Florida Everblades on Friday night at 7:30 pm.
