Fine-tuning time at home: after their recent 3-game road stretch and pending 4-game road trip, the Atlanta Gladiators return home for 2 games this week
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
In between their just concluded 3-game road trip (February 20-22, 2026) and their pending 4-game road trip (February 28-March 6, 2026 against 3 fellow ECHL South Division opponents), the Atlanta Gladiators return home for a brief homestand (2 games) this week.
Over their last 10 games, the Glads have a 5-3-1-1 record, but with losses in their last 2 games (including 1 in overtime), the team looks to keep pace with the division leading Florida Everblades and stay ahead of the gradually charging South Carolina Stingrays. The Glads are playing at a high level (as of February 23, 2026, their overall record of 32-13-2-1), as with 67 total points, they are only 3 points behind the 1st place Everblades, good for 2nd place in the division; however, the Stingrays are only 2 points behind them in 3rd place in the division (65 total points), and when it comes to the post-season, the top 4 teams in each division qualify along with the top 2 getting home ice in the 1st round, so the upcoming games (as are all games at this point in the season) carry added significance.
The recent roster moves of adding defenseman Cam Gaudette (on February 19, 2026) and forward Nick McCarry (on February 17, 2026) provide depth options at this important time of the year. Defensively, the Glads' defense is allowing 2.27 goals per game (109 total goals in 48 games), placing them 3rd in the ECHL in goals allowed per game behind only the league leading Kansas City Mavericks (allowing 2.12 goals per game) and Florida Everblades (allowing 2.18 goals per game). With the recent promotion of ECHL All-Star goaltender TJ Semptimphelter to the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals, Ethan Haider (17 wins along with a 2.32 goals allowed average and .926 save percentage) and the defense are expected to maintain their overall solid performance which is a hallmark to their team play and success this season. On offense, forward Alex Young (17 goals/24 assists/41 points/+12 rating) and defenseman Chad Nychuk (6 goals/35 assists/41 points/+26) look to lead the offense as in the midst of ECHL All-Star forward Jack O'Brien's return to play (19 goals/17 assists/36 points/+9 rating). The team is currently scoring slightly under 3 goals per game (a 2.95 goals scoring average), so the return home can provide a jump-start to this part of the team's play.
Atlanta's game on February 24, 2026 (7:10pm EST start at the Gas South District) has them hosting their in-state and one of their ECHL South Division foes, the Savannah Ghost Pirates, who are currently in 4th place in the division (26-19-3-1/56 points). On Friday, February 27, 2026 (7:10pm EST start at the Gas South District), the Jacksonville Ice Men, another ECHL South Division rival (they are currently in 7th/last place in the division at 19-25-5-0/43 points), come to town.
Friday's game is the Heroes Night theme game, as members of the military, along with those in related service fields, are recognized for their larger efforts towards the greater good.
With their homestand, while brief, it's an opportunity for the Atlanta Gladiators to get some "fine-tuning" done at home before their next extended road trip. And with it getting into the "crunch time" part of the regular season schedule (there are 72 regular season games overall), it's a way for the team to keep pace and stay ahead within their division and focused on their larger goals.
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