ECHL Game Preview: Bloomington Bison vs Atlanta Gladiators | 01/31-02/02/2025

Three-In-Three Series

Here are the upcoming games this weekend between Bloomington and Atlanta at Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA:

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 Network (MixLR to end on 1/31) – Gladiators YouTube Channel

Listen Live: Bloomington Bison Broadcast Network

Team Standings

With a record of 18 wins, 19 losses, 3 ties, and two overtime losses over 42 games, the Atlanta Gladiators currently hold a win percentage of 48.8%. The team has netted 111 goals but has allowed 139, indicating some defensive struggles. Their power play percentage is at 13.7%, while their penalty kill percentage stands at 78.9%. Despite experiencing a tough season so far, the Atlanta Gladiators have the capability to stand their ground and compete. Atlanta has been relatively strong at home, with a record of 11-9-2-2. This home advantage could play a crucial role in the series, as the Gladiators look to leverage their home ice.

In contrast, the Bloomington Bison have recently showcased commendable performance. With a record of 18 wins, 18 losses, one tie, and two overtime losses from 39 games, they have secured a win percentage of 50.0%. The Bison have scored 98 goals while conceding 102, indicating a fairly balanced display. Their power play percentage is noteworthy at 19%, and their penalty kill percentage is at 80%. At home, Bloomington stands out with a record of 10-8-1-1. However, their away performance is less impressive, holding a record of 8-10-0-1, which highlights some vulnerabilities on the road that the Gladiators could exploit if they develop a solid strategy heading into this three-in-three series.

Key Players for Atlanta

Key players for Atlanta include Cody Sylvester, who has 15 goals and 17 assists in 42 games, Eric Neiley with 11 goals and 19 assists in 35 games, and Blake Murray, who has contributed 11 goals and 14 assists in 36 games. Other notable players are Joey Cipollone with 9 goals and 14 assists in 40 games, Easton Armstrong with eight goals and 11 assists in 38 games, and Carson Denomie with eight goals and 10 assists in 42 games. Look for either to potentially notch a goal or assist, especially if the top lines are being heavily defended.

Key Players for Bloomington

Key players for Bloomington include Eddie Matsushima, who has 16 goals and 16 assists in 40 games. Matsushima has been particularly hot lately, with 19 points (8 goals, 11 assists) in his last 17 games. Other key players include Brett Budgell, who has 11 goals and 16 assists in 29 games, and Blake McLaughlin, who has contributed 10 goals and 12 assists in 26 games. The Bison are also strong when scoring first, boasting a 16-3-1 record in such games.

Anticipated Matchups

Anticipated Matchups

One of the most anticipated matchups is between Cody Sylvester and Eddie Matsushima. Sylvester has been a standout for Atlanta with 15 goals and 17 assists in 42 games, while Matsushima has been equally impressive for Bloomington, tallying 16 goals and 16 assists in 40 games.

Another crucial matchup to watch is Eric Neiley versus Blake McLaughlin. Neiley has contributed significantly to Atlanta’s offense with 11 goals and 19 assists in 35 games. On the other side, McLaughlin has been a key playmaker for Bloomington, recording 10 goals and 12 assists in 26 games.

Lastly, the battle between Blake Murray and Brett Budgell will be pivotal. Murray now has 11 goals and 14 assists in 36 games for Atlanta, while Budgell has matched his goal tally with 11 goals and added 16 assists in just 29 games for Bloomington.

Atlanta’s Home Record

Atlanta has been relatively strong at home, with a record of 11-9-2-2. This home advantage could play a crucial role in the upcoming series, as the Gladiators look to leverage their familiarity with their home rink and the support of their fans to secure victories.

Recent Results

In their last game, Atlanta secured a 3-2 shootout victory against South Carolina. The Gladiators had a total of 31 shots on goal, with 7 in the first period, 10 in the second, 8 in the third, and 5 in overtime. Key performances included Carson Denomie scoring a goal and earning the third star of the game, and Patriks Marcinkevics scoring the decisive goal in the shootout. Derek Topatigh and Anthony Firriolo also contributed with assists, showcasing their offensive capabilities from the blue line.

Bloomington, on the other hand, faced a 6-3 loss against the Kalamazoo Wings in their last game. The Bison had a total of 28 shots on goal, with 9 in the first period, 14 in the second, and 5 in the third. Despite the loss, Connor Lockhart had a strong performance with a goal and an assist, and Carter Berger also contributed the same. Ryan Siedem added an assist, providing valuable support on both ends of the ice for the Bison.

Potential Strategies

If Atlanta’s strategy was to shoot and score fast and early in the first period this could significantly impact the series. By coming out strong and putting pressure on Bloomington from the start, Atlanta can capitalize on their home advantage and set the tone for the game. This approach can disrupt Bloomington’s rhythm, especially since the Bison tend to ramp up their offensive efforts in the second period.

If Atlanta can establish the early lead, it will force Bloomington to play catch-up, potentially leading to mistakes and defensive lapses. Additionally, an early offensive push can energize the Gladiators and their fans, creating a more intimidating atmosphere for the visiting team. Given Bloomington’s vulnerability on the road, Atlanta’s ability to score early could be a decisive factor in securing victories in this series.

Bloomington might try to implement aggressive forechecking to interrupt Atlanta’s breakout plays and deploy a neutral zone trap to impede their transition game. By maintaining tight defensive coverage in their zone, they can restrict Atlanta’s time and space for executing plays, while quick breakouts can open up counterattack chances. Additionally, solid goaltending from will be crucial in keeping the team competitive and boosting their confidence.

Staying Disciplined

Atlanta, averaging 9.21 penalty minutes per game compared to Bloomington’s 10.26, appears to be slightly more disciplined. This discipline could be advantageous if they continue to avoid unnecessary penalties and maintain control of the game. Bloomington, on the other hand, needs to focus on staying out of the penalty box to prevent giving Atlanta power play opportunities. Atlanta’s disciplined play can minimize Bloomington’s power play chances, which is crucial given Bloomington’s higher power play percentage of 19%.

Prediction

Given their recent performance and head-to-head statistics, Atlanta seems to have a strong chance of ending the series in their favor by winning at least two out of the three games. Their ability to secure critical victories, exemplified by their recent shootout win, underscores this potential. However, the outcome may depend on Atlanta’s capacity to utilize their home advantage and have their key players step up. To accomplish this, they will need to score quickly and early in each game while maintaining consistent defensive pressure around the net. If they can achieve this, they might shift and keep the momentum in their favor. Regardless, this series promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to capture valuable points.