Atlanta Gladiators (2-3-2, 6 pts) at Orlando Solar Bears (3-2-1, 7 pts)
Venue: Kia Center
Date: Tonight – Wednesday, November 06, 2024
Time: 7:00 PM EST
Where to Watch/Listen
TV/Streaming: FloHockey
Listen Live: Orlando Bears Broadcast Network
Listen Live: Atlanta Gladiators Broadcast Network
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Orlando Solar Bears News & Notes:
The Solar Bears recently had a mixed week. They secured a strong 5-1 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen on November 2nd, with Aaron Luchuk scoring twice, including his 100th ECHL goal. However, they faced a tough loss against the Savannah Ghost Pirates, who set a franchise record with a 6-4 win over Orlando.
Aaron Luchuk (8 points) and Tyler Bird (7 points) are the current points leaders for the Orlando Solar Bears. Bird has scored five goals and two assists, while Luchuk has four goals and four assists. Alex Frye also stands out by leading the league with two shorthanded goals. The team has a solid record of 2-0-1 when scoring first.
Atlanta Gladiators News & Notes:
The Atlanta Gladiators, led by points leader Cody Sylvester (6 points in 7 games), have shown resilience with a 2-0-1 record when leading after two periods. They face a busy schedule with games against Orlando on Wednesday, Jacksonville on Friday, and back-to-back matches against Greenville on the weekend. Their first game back after a long stretch of away games, is their home game against the Swamp Rabbits on Sunday.
The Gladiators may be looking to focus on boosting their power play efficiency (currently 15%) and tightening their penalty kill (76.2%). The Solar Bears are certainly a team to watch on the penalty kill, as they are tied for the league lead in shorthanded goals. Minimizing turnovers and improving defensive strategies will be crucial to lowering the Gladiators’ 19 goals against over the last seven games. Stay disciplined – The Gladiators are the league’s third-least penalized team, with an average of just 7.57 penalty minutes per game.
Projected Lines
Orlando Solar Bears
Forward Lines
A. Luchuk – T. Bird – B. Low
A. Nazarian – J. Adams – D. Touré
S. Kersten – D. Angeli – R. Mahshie
A. Frye – K. Bent – A. Bardaro
Defensive Pairings
S. Walford – D. Touré
C. Harpur – J. Mazza
T. Feist – B. Carroll
Goalie
M. Simpson
Atlanta Gladiators
Forward Lines
E. Neiley – C. Sylvester – D. Topatigh
E. Armstrong – P. Fletcher – C. Denomie
R. Cranford – J. Pierson – M. Marchesan
J. Boyer – R. Hernández – B. Murray
Defensive Pairings
J. Hanzel – B. Datema
C. Hausinger – A. Jarvis
D. Topatigh – D. Carabia
Goalie
E. Haider
Players To Watch
Orlando Solar Bears
Aaron Luchuk: Also with eight points (4g, 4a), Luchuk is another crucial player for the Solar Bears.
Tyler Bird: with 7 points (5g, 2a in sevengames, Bird is a key offensive player to watch.
Alex Frye: Leading the league with two shorthanded goals, Frye is a significant threat on the penalty kill.
Atlanta Gladiators
Derek Topatigh: A standout player for the Atlanta Gladiators, contributing significantly with five assists in just six games. His playmaking abilities have been crucial for the team’s offense, making him a key player to watch
Cody Sylvester: Leading the charge in both points (6) and goals (3) for the Atlanta Gladiators for six points in seven games, Sylvester is demonstrating his consistent scoring ability.
Jackson Pierson: Has made a noticeable impact on the Atlanta Gladiators by contributing one goal and two assists in seven games. His ability to create scoring opportunities and support his teammates has been valuable, helping to maintain the team’s offensive momentum.
Milestone Watch
Eric Neiley, the Team Captain of the Atlanta Gladiators, is on the verge of a significant milestone, needing just one more point to reach 200 points with the team. Over 265 games, he has scored 103 goals and 95 assists, ranking him among the top players in the ECHL. His consistent scoring and leadership make him a standout player in the league.
