The upcoming game between South Carolina and Atlanta at Gas South Arena promises to be an exciting matchup. South Carolina is riding high after a dominant win in Savannah, while Atlanta is eager to keep their momentum going and climb the standings. Here’s a detailed analysis of both teams, including key players, goaltending stats, and additional factors that could influence the outcome game.
Get ready for an exciting showdown as these two teams face off!
Date & Time:
Friday: January 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Venue: Gas South Arena
Where to Watch/Listen
TV/Streaming: FloHockey
Listen Live: Atlanta Gladiators Broadcast Network
Listen Live: South Carolina Broadcast Network
News and Notes
South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina dominated Savannah with an 11-3 victory in their recent game. They scored consistently across all periods and had a strong power play performance, converting two out of five opportunities. Defensively, they allowed only three goals on 29 shots, showing solid play. However, they accumulated 31 penalty minutes, which could be a concern.
Key players like Kyler Kupka, Erik Middendorf, and Josh Wilkins were standout performers. Kupka, who has 13 goals and 15 assists in 29 games, scored twice and assisted twice in the game against Savannah. Middendorf, with 12 goals and nine assists in 24 games, also had a strong performance on that game with two goals and three assists. Wilkins, who has nine goals and 10 assists in 19 games, contributed with a goal and two assists.
Goaltending will be crucial for South Carolina. Seth Eisele has a 2.70 GAA and a .904 save percentage in 14 games, showing strong performance. Garin Bjorklund has a 1.87 GAA and a .933 save percentage in 8 games, and Mitchell Gibson has a 1.96 GAA and a .923 save percentage in 7 games.
Other important statistics to note for the Stingrays are their 117 goals scored this season, including 2 shorthanded goals, a 12% success rate on power plays, and an 80% penalty kill rate. South Carolina holds the second position in the South Division, boasting a record of 18-9-2-0 and a points percentage of 65.5%. Their recent performance shows a record of 4-5-1-0 over the last ten games. Notably, when they score first, South Carolina has an impressive record of 14-2-1-0, achieving a points percentage of 85.3%.
Atlanta Gladiators
Atlanta lost to Norfolk 6-3 in their last game. Despite their efforts, the team struggled in the first two periods, managing to score all their goals in the third period, but not in time to catch up to the Admirals. Defensively, they allowed six goals on 39 shots, a potential weakness. They had 11 penalty minutes, which is relatively low compared to South Carolina.
Key players like Eric Neiley, Cody Sylvester, and Blake Murray contributed significantly. Neiley, who has 10 goals and 13 assists in 26 games, is a crucial player for Atlanta. Sylvester, with eight goals and 13 assists in 31 games, and Murray, with seven goals and nine assists in 25 games, will also play important roles.
Goaltending will be crucial for Atlanta. Ethan Haider has a 2.61 GAA and a .908 save percentage in 18 games, while Drew DeRidder, who is back from IR, has a 2.75 GAA and a .912 save percentage in 14 games.
Other important factors to consider are their 76 goals scored this season, one shorthanded goal, a power play percentage of 25%, and a penalty kill percentage of 91%. Atlanta currently sits fifth in the South Division, holding a record of 14-13-3-1 with a points percentage of 51.6%. Their recent performance, featuring a record of 7-3-0-0 in the last ten games, is definitely encouraging.
When scoring first, Atlanta has a strong record of 10-3-1-0, with a points percentage of 75%. They have been very effective at maintaining their lead and securing points when they get the first goal. This could be a crucial factor in their strategy against South Carolina. That and maintaining the momentum throughout all three periods, as keeping the Stingrays at bay will require three solid 20 minute periods from start to finish.
Special Teams Breakdown
South Carolina Stingrays
South Carolina’s special teams are a significant strength for the team. Their home power play percentage of 22.4% ranks them sixth in the league, indicating they are effective at converting power play opportunities on home ice. On the road, they excel even more with a power play percentage of 27.5%, ranking second overall. This shows that their power play unit is highly effective regardless of the venue. Overall, their power play stands at an impressive third place with a rate of 25%, making them one of the top teams in the league in this aspect.
Defensively, South Carolina’s special teams are also strong. They have an effective penalty kill rate of 86.8% at home, ranking fourth in the league. They have been excellent at preventing opponents from scoring on power plays, helping them to maintain their leads and stay competitive in games.
Atlanta Gladiators
Atlanta’s special teams present a mixed picture. Their home power play percentage of 17.2%, ranking sixteenth overall, is solid and provides a good foundation to build upon. However, their power play stands at twelfth place with a rate of 12.4%, indicating potential for further improvement.
Defensively, Atlanta’s special teams are quite dependable. With an effective penalty kill rate of 81.0% at home, ranking thirteenth overall, they demonstrate strong capability in preventing power play goals when playing at home. This reliability on defense is a key strength for the team.
Matchup Analysis
In terms of the matchup ,South Carolina’s offense is currently performing well, scoring eleven goals during their last game. Atlanta will need to tighten up defensively if they hope to contain this potent offense. South Carolina’s defense has been solid while Atlanta’s defense showed vulnerabilities which could be key factors during this game. South Carolina’s effective power play combined with Atlanta needing to avoid penalties will also be crucial factors during this matchup.
Strategies To Watch
Discipline will be key as both teams need to avoid giving away unnecessary penalties which could give either team an advantage through special teams plays. Atlanta’s strong powerplay combined with their effective penalty kill could prove crucial if they can capitalize on these opportunities effectively.
Strong goaltending performances from both sides will also be essential as South Carolina’s trio consisting of Eisele, Bjorklund & Gibson have both been solid while Atlanta’s Haider & DeRidder will need to perform at their best.
Momentum & confidence will also play important roles as South Carolina’s recent big win could give them confidence while Atlanta needs to shake off their recent loss & come out strong.
Scoring first could set tone for entire game as both teams have strong records when scoring first -South Carolina being 14 -2 -1 -0 while Atlanta being 10 -3 -1 -0.
Prediction
Given South Carolina’s recent strong performance and impressive offensive and defensive statistics, they appear to have the advantage. For Atlanta to succeed, they must significantly bolster their defense and make the most of every power play opportunity. Despite their recent loss, Atlanta boasts an impressive record of 7-3-0-0 in their last ten games. If they can maintain discipline and avoid penalties, they have a chance to secure the win and the points. Additionally, it’s vital for them to prevent South Carolina from taking full advantage of any power play opportunities, as doing so will be crucial in keeping the game competitive and potentially leading to an Atlanta victory.
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