Get ready for an exciting showdown as the Savannah Ghost Pirates take on the Atlanta Gladiators at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia today at 3:00 PM EST. Both teams are coming off recent victories and are eager to build on their momentum. The Ghost Pirates, fresh from a thrilling 3-2 overtime win against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, will look to leverage their home advantage and strong penalty kill to secure another win. Meanwhile, the Gladiators, buoyed by their own solid 4-2 victory over Greenville, aim to continue their upward trajectory with a strong performance on the road.
Where to Watch/Listen
Tune in to FloHockey or listen live on the respective broadcast networks to catch all the action!
TV/Streaming: FloHockey
Listen Live: Atlanta Gladiators Broadcast (You Tube)
Listen Live: Savannah Ghost Pirates Broadcast Network (Mixlr)
Savannah Ghost Pirates’ Team Performance
The Savannah Ghost Pirates are coming off a thrilling 3-2 overtime victory against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on February 15, 2025. Savannah took an early lead with a power-play goal by Riley Hughes, followed by a second-period goal from Reece Vitelli. Despite Greenville’s efforts to tie the game, Liam Walsh secured the win for Savannah with an overtime goal just 50 seconds into the extra period. Key players included Riley Hughes, Reece Vitelli, and Liam Walsh, with Dennis Cesana and Patrick Guay contributing assists. Goaltender Evan Cormier made 28 saves on 30 shots. Savannah went one for three on the power play and successfully killed all three penalties. With this momentum, the Ghost Pirates will look to carry their winning form into today’s matchup against the visiting Atlanta Gladiators.
Key Players – Savannah
Top Forwards for Savannah
Among the top forwards, Reece Vitelli has been a standout with 11 goals and 33 assists in 47 games, showcasing his playmaking abilities. Logan Drevitch, with seven goals and 29 assists, has been a consistent contributor over 47 games. Devon Paliani has been a force with 19 goals and 16 assists, making him a key offensive threat. Patrick Guay has chipped in with 11 goals and 16 assists in 42 games. Riley Hughes, despite playing only 18 games, has an impressive 14 goals and 8 assists. Liam Walsh, with 9 goals and 13 assists in 47 games, rounds out the list of key forwards who will be crucial in today’s game.
Key Defensemen for Savannah
On defense, Dennis Cesana has been exceptional, contributing 12 goals and 32 assists in 42 games. Evan Nause has added three goals and 11 assists in 38 games, providing stability on the blue line.
Goaltending
In goal, Evan Cormier has been reliable with 11 wins, a 3.51 goals-against average, and a .877 save percentage in 23 games. His performance last night, making 28 saves on 30 shots and crucial stops in overtime, was instrumental in securing the win. Keith Kinkaid has also been strong, with six wins, a 3.20 goals-against average, and a .882 save percentage in 19 games.
Team News & Updates
The Savannah Ghost Pirates have experienced some significant roster changes recently. Defenseman Nathan Staios has headed overseas, creating a gap in the team’s defensive lineup. Forward Ross Armour has also decided to pursue an exciting opportunity overseas, and defenseman Will Riedell is following suit to further his hockey career. On a brighter note, the Ghost Pirates have been strengthened by the addition of forwards Riley Hughes and Josh Davies, who were assigned from the Charlotte Checkers on Monday, February 10th.
The Savannah Ghost Pirates have been fighting hard this season, racking up 152 goals. Their overall power play is at 22.6%, but at home, it’s slightly lower at 22.9%. Their penalty kill stands at 82.6% overall, with a stronger performance at home at 85.2%. With 47 games under their belt, they have 22 wins, 23 losses, and two overtime losses, earning 46 points and a 0.489 points percentage. At home, they hold a balanced record of 12-12-2-0. Recently, they’ve struggled a bit, going 3-7-0-0 in their last ten games.
Savannah is currently 6th in the South Division. Today’s game is a pivotal opportunity for them to climb the standings and secure a better playoff position.
Atlanta Gladiators’ Team Performance
The Atlanta Gladiators are coming off a strong 4-2 victory against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at Gas South Arena on February 13, 2025. Despite falling behind early with a power-play goal by Greenville’s Brody Brodzinski, Atlanta responded in the second period with a goal from Connor Galloway, assisted by Jeremy Hanzel and Chad Nychuk. Greenville regained the lead, but Atlanta’s Michael Marchesan tied the game in the third period. The Gladiators then took control with a go-ahead goal from Dominiks Marcinkevics and an empty-netter by Dylan Carabia to seal the win. Key players in that matchup included Dominiks Marcinkevics, who was named the first star of the game, goaltender Drew DeRidder, who made 26 saves on 28 shots, and Michael Marchesan. Atlanta outshot Greenville 36-28 and successfully killed one of Greenville’s three power plays.
With that victory, the Gladiators have built significant momentum heading into today’s game against the Savannah Ghost Pirates. The strong defensive performance led by Drew DeRidder and the timely scoring from key players like Dominiks Marcinkevics and Michael Marchesan will be crucial as they face a Savannah team that is also coming off an overtime win. Atlanta’s ability to respond to adversity and capitalize on scoring opportunities will be essential in their matchup against Savannah.
Key Players – Atlanta
Top Forwards for Atlanta Gladiators
Among the top forwards, Cody Sylvester has been a ongoing standout with 18 goals and 17 assists in 48 games, showcasing his scoring prowess. Eric Neiley has also been impressive with 11 goals and 19 assists in 37 games, providing a consistent offensive threat. Blake Murray, with 12 goals and 16 assists in 42 games, adds depth to the forward lineup. Joey Cipollone has contributed nine goals and 14 assists in 46 games, while Easton Armstrong has chipped in with eight goals and 12 assists in 44 games. Patriks Marcinkevics, with six goals and 14 assists in 33 games, and Ryan Cranford, with nine goals and 10 assists in 46 games, round out the list of key forwards who will be crucial in today’s game.
Key Defensemen for Atlanta
On defense, Derek Topatigh has been exceptional, contributing six goals and 23 assists in 47 games. Anthony Firriolo has also been solid with three goals and 11 assists in 29 games. Jeremy Hanzel has added two goals and 11 assists in 37 games, providing stability on the blue line.
Goaltending
In goal, Ethan Haider has been reliable with 14 wins, a 2.85 goals-against average, and a .903 save percentage in 26 games. Haider had been on IR for the game against Greenville, and his status for today is not yet known. Drew DeRidder has also been strong, with six wins, a 3.00 goals-against average, and a .905 save percentage in 23 games. His performance Thursday night, making 26 saves on 28 shots, was instrumental in securing the win.
Team News and Updates
The Atlanta Gladiators have made several roster adjustments, some due to injuries. Defenseman Christian Hausinger was placed on reserve, while goaltender Ethan Haider is on a 3-day injured reserve. Additionally, defenseman Brenden Datema has been moved from a 3-day to a 14-day injured reserve. In a positive development, the Gladiators have added forward Alexander Campbell on loan from the Milwaukee Admirals, bringing versatility and skill to the lineup.
Previously, the team had signed Simon Boyko and saw the return of Chad Nychuk from loan with the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL).
Atlanta has been a formidable opponent this season, matching Savannah with 152 goals. They’ve participated in four shootouts, scoring three goals on nine attempts, with a 33.3% success rate. They have also allowed three goals on 10 shootout attempts, with a 30% save rate. Their overall power play is at 12.4%, but on the road, it drops significantly to 7.9%. Their penalty kill is 77.9% overall, with a slightly lower performance on the road at 75.7%. Atlanta has played 49 games, achieving 21 wins, 22 losses, four overtime losses, and two shootout losses, accumulating 48 points and a 0.490 points percentage. On the road, they have a challenging record of 8-11-2-0. In their last ten games, they’ve been competitive, going 4-4-1-1, and are currently on a 2-0-1-0 streak.
Atlanta is currently 5th in the South Division, and a win today is crucial for solidifying their position and boosting their playoff hopes.
Prediction
Atlanta Gladiators are our prediction to win, but it will likely be decided in a close game.
Atlanta is coming off a strong 4-2 victory against Greenville, which has built significant momentum and confidence within the team. Their ability to respond to adversity and capitalize on scoring opportunities will be crucial. Players like Cody Sylvester have been consistent offensive threats, and their contributions will be vital. Additionally, Drew DeRidder’s recent performance, making 26 saves on 28 shots, shows he is in good form. Atlanta has shown the ability to surge in the third period, as seen in their recent games. This late-game push could be the deciding factor in a close contest. Despite their road struggles, Atlanta’s defense, led by players like Derek Topatigh and Anthony Firriolo, has been solid. Their ability to shut down Savannah’s key forwards will be crucial.
Records Against Each Other:
Savannah Ghost Pirates: 4-3-0-0 against Atlanta
Atlanta Gladiators: 3-4-0-0 against Savannah
These records indicate that the teams are closely matched, with Savannah having a slight edge in their head-to-head matchups. This history suggests that today’s game will likely be competitive and tightly contested.
Potential Trouble for Atlanta from Savannah:
Savannah’s key forwards, such as Reece Vitelli and Riley Hughes, have the ability to create scoring opportunities and capitalize on power plays. Their strong home penalty kill (85.2%) could also disrupt Atlanta’s power play, which has struggled on the road (7.9%). Savannah’s recent overtime win against Greenville shows their resilience and ability to perform under pressure. However, having played an overtime game last night, Savannah could be impacted by fatigue, which might affect their performance today.
Atlanta should stay disciplined to avoid unnecessary penalties, minimizing Savannah’s power play opportunities. Strong defensive play is essential, focusing on shutting down Savannah’s key forwards and limiting their scoring chances. They need to capitalize on any defensive lapses by Savannah and convert scoring chances, especially during even-strength play. Maintaining pressure on Savannah throughout the game, particularly in the third period where Atlanta has shown the ability to surge, will be crucial.
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