Saturday, December 28, 2024
As the Norfolk Admirals and Atlanta Gladiators prepare to face off, let’s take a closer look at their performance so far this season. The Admirals have played 29 games, boasting a solid record of 17-7-3 and a win percentage of 58.6%. They have been strong offensively, scoring 97 goals while conceding only 70. Their power play has been effective, converting 21% of their 93 power play opportunities. Defensively, they have successfully killed 79 out of 101 penalties, resulting in an 83% penalty kill rate.
On the other hand, the Atlanta Gladiators have also played 29 games but have a more modest record of 13-12-3, with a win percentage of 44.8%. They have scored 70 goals and conceded 87. Like Norfolk, Atlanta has two overtime wins and three overtime losses. However, their power play has struggled, with a conversion rate of just 10.8% from 93 power play opportunities. Their penalty kill has been less effective than Norfolk’s, with a success rate of 78.2%, having killed 79 out of 101 penalties.
With these stats in mind, the upcoming series promises to be an intriguing matchup between Norfolk’s strong offense and Atlanta’s determination to improve their standings.
Team Updates:
Atlanta: Jon Horrell was released as an emergency backup goalie, and Dysen Skinner, SPHL goalie for the Macon Mayhem, was signed to a contract while Drew DeRidder remained on the 3-day injured reserve. Additionally, Tyler Drevitch, Christian Hausinger, and Dominiks Marcinkevics all remained on injured reserve. Brenden Datema remained on reserve for today’s game.
Norfolk: Scratched for the Admirals are Carson Musser, Filip Fornaa Svensson, Marco Reifenberger, Spencer Kennedy and Ben Zioty.
Starting Lines
Norfolk: Darick Louis-Jean, Pavel Padakin, Jaden Shields, Sean Montgomery, Justin Young, Kristian Stead
Atlanta: Zach Yoder, Carson Denomie, Jackson Pierson, Ryan Cranford, Andrew Jarvis, Ethan Haider
Period 1
Stepan Timofeyev had an early opportunity against Ethan Haider, but the goalie snatched it with his glove. Moments later, Joey Cipollone took his shot, only to have it deflected by an Admirals player. Although they maintained pressure in the zone, the Gladiators couldn’t manage a solid attempt on Kristian Stead. As the Admirals surged forward, they took a shot on Haider, prompting a power play opportunity after Carabia was penalized for interfering with the shot. He served a two-minute minor for slashing (2:00). The Gladiators effectively killed off the penalty. Toptaigh later unleashed a powerful shot from the blue line, but it struck the glass.
A slapper by Ryan Cranford was blocked, but the Gladiators got some good shots on Stead. Again, a shot blocked by Norfolk drew cheers from the crowd, who thought Atlanta might have had the opportunity to find the net. Derek Louis-Jean took Patriks Marcinkevics to the ice upsetting the Atlanta faithful. Later, a glove grab by Stead robbed Cranford of the goal. The Gladiators’ Jeremy Hanzel had a near chance on the left side of Stead but was unable to tap it in. Pierson in front of the net, send its to Cranford but he could not get a grip on it. The Gladiators drew a penalty after Kamerin Nault gets snagged for tripping (9:33). On the powerplay, Sylvester had the shot, but it was deftly caught by Stead.
Haider halted play following a shot on goal from Carson Goulder. A delayed penalty for tripping was called against Norfolk, allowing Atlanta to maintain possession of the puck. Once Norfolk made contact, Jaden Shields was sent to the penalty box at 13:23. The Gladiators continued to pressure the Admirals’ net, but Firriolo’s shot went wide of the target. After regaining full strength, the Admirals took their positions by Haider’s net, just before the Gladiators made their move. Firriolo took a huge hit, and then Timofeyev scored the goal. Denis Smirnov was credited with the assist (17:09).
On a breakaway chance, the Gladiators had a solid opportunity on Stead as Easton Armstrong made the attempt but was blocked by Connor Fedorek. Connor Galloway was called for slashing, giving the Admirals a power play at 18:00. However, the penalty was killed by Atlanta and we ended the period 1-0, Norfolk.
Goals:
Norfolk: S. Timofeyev (8) at 17:09, assisted by D. Smirnov.
Shots on Goal:
Norfolk: 9; Atlanta: 5
Penalties:
Atlanta: D. Carabia, 2 minutes for Slashing at 2:00; C. Galloway, 2 minutes for Slashing at 18:00.
Norfolk: K. Nault, 2 minutes for Tripping at 9:33; J. Shields, 2 minutes for Tripping at 13:23.
Period 2
The Gladiators struck early in the second period when Jarvis executed a strong hip check, allowing Cranford to capitalize on the rebound with a shot over Stead’s shoulder. Carson Denomie and Jackson Pierson contributed with assists at 0:30, bringing the score to a tie at 1-1.
The Admirals attempted a shot on Haider, but he responded with a decisive save. However, the Gladiators received a penalty for interference on Zach Yoder at 3:12. On the penalty kill, the Gladiators kept the pressure on as the Admirals tried to surge ahead. The Gladiators, on a breakaway, were thwarted when the Admirals received a penalty for tripping on Murray. With Shields in the box, the teams were four aside. Andrew Jarvis takes a tumble; without his stick, he retaliates against McDougall for that earlier hit with one of his own. The game returned to full intensity as Kelly took a shot at Haider, but the goaltender expertly caught it.
The Admirals attempted two shots after the faceoff, both blocked by the Gladiators. A follow-up shot was also stopped, and after a tough hit on Patriks Marcinkevics, German Yavash received a two-minute penalty, granting the Gladiators a power play. The Admirals managed to seize the puck but failed to score despite several attempts, including shots from Hanzel and Denomie, which were blocked by Stead. Yavash returned from the box but missed a clear shot, showcasing strong puck handling by the Gladiators.
The Gladiators took down Osmundson, and the arena erupted, but he stayed down on the ice after the hit. After some discussion at center ice, no penalty was called. Once play resumed, the Admirals got some close-ups on Haider, but the Gladiators’ netminder eventually gloved it down after Smirnov made the last shot. Marchesan took a powerful shot at Stead, but it merely glanced off the crossbar. A center shot from Pierson was deflected by the Norfolk goaltender. Pierson was taken down as Norfolk was called for interference on Lordanthony Grissom. They made the best of that chance when Stead was beaten by Cody Sylvester, who just got his 500th career point on that power play goal, with Derek Topatigh assisting at 16:48.
At the buzzer, a hit along the boards caused some pushing and shoving by a few players on both sides as things heated up. We had some discussion at center ice as the rest of the benches headed to the locker room.
Eventually, the ice was cleared, and we headed into intermission with Atlanta ahead 2-1.
Shots on Goal:
Norfolk: 14; Atlanta: 12
Goals:
Atlanta: R. Cranford 3 at 0:30, assisted by C. Denomie and J. Pierson; C. Sylvester 8 at 16:48, assisted by D. Topatigh (PP)
Penalties:
Atlanta: Z. Yoder, 2 minutes for Interference at 3:12.
Norfolk: J. Shields, 2 minutes for Tripping at 4:27; G. Yavash, 2 minutes for Roughing at 8:42; L. Grissom, 2 minutes for Interference at 16:08.
Period 3
The period began with an intense exchange on both sides of the ice as each team sought control of the puck. Atlanta’s Carabia took a powerful shot on goal, which unfortunately hit the crossbar, quickly followed by another attempt. Justin Young went to the sin bin after the Admirals were called for delay of game at 4:37. Topatigh faced a significant hit but bounced up to his skates swiftly. Later, another hit occurred, and the crowd was eager for a call, but there was nothing on the Admirals related to that hit as play became more physical as the period drew on. More back and forth as Goulder shot on Haider but he gloved it down easily.
Jarvis received a high stick, leading to a penalty for Norfolk, and Osmundson was sent to the penalty box at 9:58. The advantage was now with Atlanta. Pierson took a shot at Stead, who made an impressive save, much to the disappointment of the Gladiator fans. With under ten minutes remaining and both teams at full strength, they fought for the upper hand. Young delivered a powerful shot on Haider, but it was deflected away. A hooking penalty was called on Cranford, who took the chance to block the shot on Haider (14:27).
During a breakaway, Sylvester momentarily lost control of the puck, allowing the Admirals to clear it. The game heated up as Ryan Chyzowski’s shot was saved by Haider. With under three minutes left, the Gladiators focused on maintaining their lead. Topatigh took down an Admiral, and Hernández’s remarkable shot was blocked by Stead. As Norfolk pulled their goalie, the Gladiators scored an insurance goal with 1:24 remaining, with Hernández assisted by Jarvis and Armstrong. Despite pulling their goalie, the Admirals couldn’t score, and the Gladiators won 3-1, marking their 7th win in the last 8 games.
Goals:
Atlanta: R. Hernández at 18:45, assisted by B. Murray and A. Jarvis (EN).
Shots on Goal: Norfolk: 9; Atlanta: 9
Penalties:
Norfolk: J. Young, 2 minutes for Delay of Game at 4:37; B. Osmundson, 2 minutes for High-sticking at 9:58.
Atlanta: R. Cranford, 2 minutes for Hooking at 14:27.
Game Summary
The Atlanta Gladiators secured a 3-1 victory over the Norfolk Admirals at Gas South Arena. Norfolk took an early lead with a goal from S. Timofeyev in the first period. However, Atlanta responded with three unanswered goals, including a power-play goal by C. Sylvester and an empty-netter by R. Hernández. E. Haider was stellar in goal for Atlanta, making 31 saves on 32 shots.
In total, Norfolk had 14 penalty minutes from 7 infractions, while Atlanta had 8 penalty minutes from 4 infractions. This resulted in several power play opportunities, with Atlanta capitalizing on one of their seven chances
Three Stars of the Game
- C. Sylvester (ATL)
- E. Haider (ATL)
- R. Cranford (ATL)
Sunday, December 29, 2024
This matchup promised some more intense action as both teams battled it out on the ice for the second time this weekend. The series kicked off with a game at Gas South Arena on December 28, 2024, where the Gladiators secured a 3-1 victory over the Admirals.
Starting Lines
Norfolk: Nathan Kelly, Filip Fornåå Svensson, Marko Reifenberger, Lordanthony Grissom, German Yavash, and Domenic DiVincentiis
Atlanta: Zach Yoder, Andrew Jarvis, Easton Armstrong, Connor Galloway, Michael Marchesan, Jeremy Hanzel, and Dysen Skinner
Period 1
Norfolk encountered an early challenge when Grissom received a hooking penalty just minutes into the game at 4:35. However, they effectively shut down Atlanta’s scoring attempts during the penalty kill. The Gladiators applied considerable pressure, but Norfolk’s defense proved resilient, with DiVincentiis making multiple key saves in net. Once the penalty kill concluded, Jaden Shields capitalized on a loose puck in the neutral zone, skillfully advancing into the offensive zone while maintaining control on his forehand. He then launched a precise shot past Skinner, marking his first professional goal and giving the Admirals a 1-0 lead.
Atlanta continued to fight back, generating several scoring chances, yet DiVincentiis remained steadfast in goal, recording ten saves in the first period alone. Shields’ goal became the highlight of the opening period, as Norfolk wrapped up the first 20 minutes with a 1-0 lead.
Shots on Goal:
Norfolk: 13; Atlanta: 10
Penalties:
Norfolk: L. Grissom – Hooking (2 min) at 4:35
Atlanta: J. Cipollone – Holding (2 min) at 12:33
Goals Scored:
Norfolk: J. Shields from D. Smirnov at 7:38
Period 2
Team Update: Atlanta’s captain, Eric Neiley, did not return to the bench.
The Gladiators came out strong at the beginning of the period, with Blake Murray almost getting past DiVincentiis. Skinner made two additional saves as Norfolk attempted to increase the pressure, advancing into Atlanta’s zone. A blue line shot by Atlanta is halted by Norfolk. Shields took a shot on goal, but Skinner made a great save. Meanwhile, the second line for the Gladiators collectively charged towards DiVincentiis but narrowly missed the target.
The Gladiators once again charged towards the net, but DiVincentiis expertly gloved the puck down, while players from both teams engaged in battle for the puck. Brenden Datema made a solid block on Norfolk’s shot, helping to successfully clear the puck out of the zone.
At 11:14, we saw a goal on Skinner that prompted the referees to review it, as the net was dislodged from its moorings during the play. Brady Fleurent was credited with the goal, while Brandon Osmundson received the assist, giving the Admirals a 2-0 lead.
Derek Topatigh fired a shot from the right, which was skillfully saved by DiVincentiis. Two additional attempts on the netminder failed to find the back of the net. However, Skinner was beaten once more as the Admirals quickly scored their third goal of the game, with Smirnov being the one to find the net for Norfolk and Josh McDougall on the assist (10:18). Yavash then struck again, sniping past him to secure the Admirals’ fourth goal. Kelly on the assist (10:35). We now have a 4-0 game in favor of Norfolk.
The Gladiators attempted to claw their way back from the deficit they faced, but they struggled to ignite the same passion they had displayed in similar games in the past. They did manage to get a few strong shots on DiVincentiis, with Hanzel making one such attempt just seconds left in the period.
Shots on Goal:
Norfolk: 11; Atlanta: 14
Penalties:
Norfolk: J. Young – Holding (2 min) at 18:00
Goals Scored:
Norfolk: B. Fleurent from B. Osmundson at 8:46; D. Smirnov from J. McDougall at 10:18; G. Yavash from N. Kelly at 10:35
Period 3
Brenden Datema had an early chance on the Norfolk net but was blocked by DiVincentiis. At the same time, Andrew Jarvis tussled with Yavash, leading both players to spend five minutes in the penalty box for fighting (0:35). Sylvester dangled the puck and took a shot but missed. Shortly after, Toptaigh had his own opportunity but couldn’t capitalize on the breakaway.
A scuffle broke out behind Skinner’s net as the Gladiators took exception to being too close to their goaltender, who made an easy glove save. Marchesan and Chyzowski were involved in the altercation and each headed to the box for roughing (4:52), leading to a brief four-on-four game.
Yavash found himself right back in the penalty box for too many men on the ice, just after being released. This mistake gave the Gladiators some momentum, allowing them to score with a power play shot from Armstrong, assisted by Hanzel and Sylvester (7:47). The score was now 4-1, with Norfolk still leading. Grissom’s shot was halted, and Skinner saved the rebound. DiVincentiis made another glove save on Armstrong’s shot. Later, Norfolk charged in aggressively, but Skinner made the save. Jackson Pierson scored against DiVincentiis but was then stopped by his glove. Hanzel received a tripping penalty, though many spectators disagreed with the decision (10:05).
The Admirals strengthened their position in front of the Atlanta net as the Gladiators tried to clear the puck. Pavel Padakin fell near the benches. After play resumed, the Admirals scored again on the power play, with Smirnov finding the net past Skinner. Norfolk led 5-1, with Shields and Golder assisting (12:01).
Lordanthony Grissom was sent to the penalty box for boarding, but the Gladiators couldn’t capitalize on the power play as the period was ending. Shortly after, another Admirals player, Timofeyev, was penalized for high-sticking at 17:05. The Gladiators took advantage, with Hanzel scoring and Pierson and Armstrong assisting at 18:09. The score was now 5-2, with Norfolk still leading. The Gladiators gave one right back after a 2-on-2 led to a score by Filip Fornåå Svensson, assisted by McDougall (18:58).
Undeterred, Atlanta struck again with Carson Denomie scoring, assisted by Armstrong at 19:26. Despite their late surge, the Gladiators couldn’t secure the win, and the game concluded with a score of 6-3. Norfolk and Atlanta split the back-to-back series, each winning one game.
Shots on Goal:
Norfolk: 15; Atlanta: 13
Penalties:
Norfolk: G. Yavash – Fighting (5 min) at 0:35; R. Chyzowski – Roughing (2 min) at 4:52; Bench minor – Too many men (2 min) at 7:10; L. Grissom – Boarding (2 min) at 13:02; S. Timofeyev – High-sticking (2 min) at 17:05
Atlanta: A. Jarvis – Fighting (5 min) at 0:35; M. Marchesan – Roughing (2 min) at 4:52; J. Hanzel – Tripping (2 min) at 10:05
Goals Scored:
Atlanta: E. Armstrong from J. Hanzel and C. Sylvester at 7:47 (PP); J. Hanzel from J. Pierson and E. Armstrong at 18:09 (PP); C. Denomie from E. Armstrong and A. Jarvis at 19:26
Norfolk: D. Smirnov from J. Shields and C. Golder at 12:01 (PP); F. Fornåå Svensson from M. Reifenberger and J. McDougall at 18:58
Three Stars of the Game:
- D. Smirnov (Norfolk)
- E. Armstrong (Atlanta)
- J. Shields (Norfolk)
Game Summary
The Norfolk Admirals took the second game of the series over the Atlanta Gladiators with a final score of 6-3. Norfolk dominated the first two periods, scoring four unanswered goals. Atlanta made a strong comeback attempt in the third period, scoring three goals, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Norfolk’s lead. The game saw a total of 76 shots on goal, with Norfolk taking 39 and Atlanta 37. Both teams had multiple penalties, with Norfolk accumulating 17 penalty minutes and Atlanta with 11.
The Gladiators will have a few days off and will return to their home ice this Friday night (1/3/2025) when they host the South Carolina Stingrays at 7:30 PM.
Discover more from Inside The Rink
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
