When the Atlanta Gladiators last met the Solar Bears, they finished that game with a stunning outcome in the overtime shootout – beating the Solar Bears 7-6. Brad Barone had relieved Gustavs Grigals, who was injured during the game. Heading into Saturday night’s game, the Gladiators continued to work through ways to keep things going in a positive direction but faced another hiccup when they lost to the Jacksonville Icemen, 4-1 on Friday. The sole goal by the Gladiators in that game was made by Cody Sylvester, with the assist made by Jacob Graves.
Saturday Night – January 27, 2024
The Atlanta Gladiator’s starting lineup on Saturday night included Jacob Graves, Dylan Carabia, Zach Yoder, Brendan Hoffmann, and Nolan Burke. Brad Barone is back between the pipes as the Gladiators’ goalkeeper. Tyler Harmon remained on Injured Reserve, and Mitch Fossier was listed on Injured Reserve as of yesterday. Gustavs Grigals was not listed on IR, but there is no word on his status as of yet. Orlando would have Brandon Halverson minding the net for the Solar Bears.
Period 1
The period began on a challenging note for the Gladiators as Jacob Graves received a penalty for elbowing and was subsequently sent off to the penalty box. Soon after, Brad Barone was called for Delay of Game when the puck went out of play, and Jackson Pierson joined Graves in the sin bin to serve the penalty by Barone.
Despite several saves made by goalie Brad Barone, Orlando takes the opportunity given, and on the Powerplay Ryan Cox as the Solar Bears take the lead 1-0 (1:55). Tyler Bird would get called for tripping Jacob Graves, sending the Gladiators to the PP. However, the Solar Bears would successfully kill that penalty, sending the Bears back to full strength. Mitchell Hoelscher would push on towards the net, getting himself around Gladiator Griffin Luce and shooting the puck past Barone, increasing the Solar Bears’ lead to 2-0 (13:10). Spencer Kennedy gets sent off the ice for misconduct (10 minutes) after having some words with the official after the scoring play by the Bears.
However, Atlanta would answer back less than a minute later when Micah Miller slammed the biscuit past Halverson on the rebound, getting the short-handed goal and bringing the score to 2-1. Michael Marchesan and Robert Calisti got the well-earned credit with the assist on the play (13:57). Just before the end of the period, Orlando’s Jacques would get called for a Cross-Checking minor, sending the Gladiators to the PP. We would conclude the period still on a Gladiators PP, with the Solar Bears leading 2-1.
Period 1 – Shots on Goal:
Atlanta – 14
Orlando – 18
Period 2
At the start of the second period, the Solar Bears successfully kill the remaining time on the penalty, and they return to full strength. However, the Gladiators would equalize the score while on the PP later in the frame after a penalty by Solar Bears’ Gaudet for Delay of Game 7:25). Robert Calisti delivered a powerful slap shot, securing his sixth goal of the season as he passed Halverson. The score is even – each team sitting at two goals each.
After that, the Gladiators struggled to get solid shots on Halverson. It would be the Solar Bears that would strike, and Alex Frye’s goal, with just under seven minutes remaining in the second period, that would put Orlando back in the lead with a score of 3-2.
Period 2 – Shots on Goal:
Atlanta – 4
Orlando – 14
Period 3
Orlando extended their lead early in the third period when Jake Stevens found the back of the net just two minutes into the frame, putting them ahead 4-2 (2:04). However, Atlanta quickly responded by narrowing the gap to 4-3 just over three minutes later (5:17). Michael Marchesan fired a hard shot from the faceoff circle, securing his sixth goal of the season. Reece Vitelli and Micha Miller would each get the credit for the assist on the goal (5:17).
The Gladiators would score to tie the game just before the midway point of the period (9:55). Micah Miller took advantage of a loose puck and scored his second goal of the night, making that the 17th of the season for Miller. Again, Gladiators’ forward Reece Vitelli would get the assist (9:55).
With just over three minutes remaining in the game, Atlanta took their first lead of the night with Nolan Burke’s shot finding its way into the goal, making it 5-4 (16:51). Brendan Hoffmann and Griffin Luce were credited with the assist.
As the game neared its end, Orlando pulled their goaltender in favor of the extra attacker. However, it was Atlanta that capitalized on the empty net and scored again When Ryan Cranford sent the puck into the wide-open net, securing his eighth goal of the season 18:43) with Cody Sylvester and Luke Prokop on the assist.
The Gladiators would beat the Solar Bears in regulation with a final score of 6-4.
Period 3 – Shots on Goal:
Atlanta – 12
Orlando – 5
Three Stars:
1. ATL – B. Hoffmann
2. ATL – M. Miller
3. ATL – M. Marchesan
Takeaways:
- The team encountered issues with shots on goal, particularly in the second period. Out of the four attempts made, Robert Calisti was the sole player who was able to score and secure a goal. This was Calisti’s sixth goal for the season.
- The Gladiators exhibited remarkable resilience in the final period, scoring four straight unanswered goals to secure a win. Additionally, they managed to contain the Solar Bears to only five shots on net in the final frame.
- Five different Gladiators would find the back of the net in this game alone.
Monday Night – January 29, 2024
The Atlanta Gladiator’s starting lineup on Saturday night included Jacob Graves, Dylan Carabia, Zach Yoder, Brendan Hoffmann, and Nolan Burke. Newly acquired goalie Josh Boyko would be in the net, his first as the Gladiators goalkeeper. Matt Ustaski joined the roster today after both Reece Vitelli and Micah Miller got the call-up to the AHL Tucson Roadrunners. Tyler Harmon and Mitch Fossier are still listed on Injured Reserve. Navrin Mutter was out of the lineup as well.
Orlando would have Evan Fitzpatrick minding the net for the Solar Bears.
Period 1
Right out of the gate, the Gladiators claim the lead with a short-handed goal following Jacob Graves’ hooking penalty that draws the attention of the officials. Cody Sylvester secures the goal, assisted by Jackson Pierson, at the 3:04 mark.
Later in the period, the Gladiators were penalized again when Luke Prokop was sent to the penalty box for cross-checking. Despite this setback, the Gladiators effectively killed the penalty, with their goalie, Boyko, making two consecutive saves as the Solar Bears attempted to equalize the score. Shortly after, the Solar Bears gave the Gladiators their first power play opportunity of the game after Darik Angeli was caught high-sticking and had to serve two minutes in the sin bin.
Period 1 – Shots on Goal:
Atlanta – 10
Orlando – 10
Period 2
With just seconds remaining on the PP from the second period, Luke Prokop gets the Gladiators on the board again quickly, with Pierson and Sylvester on the assist for the goal; the Gladiators took the 2-0 lead (0:41).
Spencer Kennedy was penalized for slashing, resulting in the Gladiators’ third penalty and putting Atlanta on the penalty kill. Shortly after, Robert Calisti scored Atlanta’s second short-handed goal, skillfully sliding the puck past Fitzpatrick without assistance (6:08). The Gladiators increased their lead to 3-0. However, tensions rose as Dylan Carabia received two minors for slashing and roughing (one penalty being served by Kennedy) following an altercation with Jimmy Mazza of the Solar Bears, who also received a penalty.
Moments later, Zach Yoder was called for hooking, leading to some overcrowding in Atlanta’s penalty box and transitioning play to the short-handed situation once more for the Gladiators. However, the skillful Boyko shut the door on the Solar Bears, and the Gladiators successfully killed those penalties without a change in score, keeping the Solar Bears on the defensive.
Jackson Pierson gets a skillfully crafted turnover but Tyler Bird slides his body in front of it, helping Fitzpatrick in preventing the goal. We finish out the second period with the Gladiators leading 3-0.
Period 2 – Shots on Goal:
Atlanta – 8
Orlando – 11
Period 3
The Gladiators come back to the third period after some solid defense in front of the net and a strong showing by Boyko in the net. The third period saw additional penalties on both sides, but the Gladiators would continue to kill off each of them.
Nolan Burke would take a heavy hit in their third period by Mazza, who gets sent to the box for roughing just after Mitch Walinski was called for tripping. We now have a 4-on-4. However, the penalties end without any change in score for either team. Two and half minutes or so later, both Calisti and Boka head to the sin bin. Calisti gets called for holding the stick, with Boka with the slashing penalty. Again, we have a 4-on-4 situation which nets no goal for either team.
As the Gladiators appeared poised to secure the victory, Dylan Carabia was called for holding, providing the Solar Bears with a prime opportunity to strike. And strike they did, with Mitchell Hoelscher evading the Gladiators’ defense to put the Bears on the board at the 18:21 minute mark. This seemed to energize the Solar Bears, who capitalized again 17 seconds later, with Hoelscher once more finding the back of the net, narrowing the Gladiators’ lead to one. However, Atlanta remained focused, determined to clinch the win, and effectively shut down the Solar Bears’ momentum in the final moments of the game, resulting in a 3-2 victory for Atlanta.
Period 3 – Shots on Goal:
Atlanta – 3
Orlando – 19
Three Stars:
1. ATL – C. Sylvester
2. ATL – J. Pierson
3. ORL – M. Hoelscher
Takeaways:
- The Gladiators successfully killed all but one penalty they incurred during the game, which had them taking penalties 11 times.
- The defense was solid in front of the net for most of the game but did seem to get a bit overconfident in the last period, giving up two late goals in what could have been a shutout.
- Atlanta had two short-handed goals and one PP goal on the night.
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