Ousted in overtime: Florida takes both games of the series with a 3-2 win in extra play over the Atlanta Gladiators
Preview: Florida Everblades (14-10-4, 32 points/7th place) vs the Atlanta Gladiators (11-19-0, 22 points/14th place)
Coming into tonight's game (the second of a three game homestand to open January 2024), the Glads look to bounce back and get into the win column (January 5, 2024 at 7:30pm) as they host the Everblades in the 2nd game of a back to back at home (the Gas South District).
Florida's Bob Carpenter (13 goals/7 assists/20 points) and Joe Pendenza (7 goals/13 assists/20 points) look to lead an offense coming off a 5 goal performance in Wednesday's win over Atlanta (click HERE for our recap). By the same token, the Glads' (who have lost 8 of their last 10) are paced on offense by ECHL All-Star forward Mitch Fossier (10 goals/18 assists/28 points), Cody Sylvester (14 goals/9 assists/23 points), and Micah Miller (10 goals/8 assists/18 points), as the team looks to earn a series split.
The Gladiators' Miller joins us for our pregame interview. He shares insight on his larger hockey journey, the current stretch of games, and related nuggets of information for players and fans (watch our full interview below):
Game recap
The defense for both teams sets the tone as it's a scoreless tie at the end of the first period.
The 2nd period is full of even more energy and chippy play between the teams.
The Gladiators take a 1-0 lead in the 2nd period (11:53) on Mitch Walinski's 4th goal of the year (assisted by Griffin Luce and Jack Matier). And just as is the case in the early periods of their game on January 3rd, Florida, would get on a run.
Cam Hausinger's 4th goal of the year (assisted by Sean Josling and Logan Lambdin) make it a it a tie game (1-1) at the 15:46 mark. Nearly 3 minutes later (18:08), Andrew Fyten (4th goal of the year with assists by Nathan Staios and Logan Lambdin), the Everblades to a 2-1 lead going into the 3rd period.
The Gladiators would even the score (2-2) on Robert Calisti's goal (5th) with assists by Mitch Fossier and Cody Sylvester.
The score remains deadlocked at 2 as the teams go to overtime.
In the extra period, the Everglades put the game away at the 3:10 mark of the 1st (and only) overtime period. Joe Pendenza's goal (8th of the season with an assist by Rieske Zmolek) ends the game and gives them a 2-0 series win.
A 36-29 shot advantage for Florida (despite 3 goals being overturned due to player interference) plays a part in their win in overcoming a game effort by the Gladiators. Atlanta looks to this Sunday's home matchup against hits the road Saturday against the SC Stingrays and returns home (January 7, 2024) as they host the Jacksonville Icemen.
Notes: All photos and video are recorded by CCSLLC (Andrew Snorton).
