Two much: the Thunder's early start pushes them to a 5-2 win over the Glads as they drop the 2nd game of the 3-game series
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Preview: Adirondack Thunder (25-13-4-1/55 points/tied for 2nd place in the ECHL North Division) vs the Atlanta Gladiators (31-11-1-0/63 points/tied for 1st place in the ECHL South Division)
On such a lovely evening (February 14, 2026 at 7:10pm EST/Gas South District), the Adirondack Thunder and Atlanta Gladiators resume their 3-game series. The Thunder pull a 4-1 surprise on the Glads in the series opener (on February 13, 2026) as they have won 7 of their last 10 games and look to inch closer to the top spot in their division.
Adirondack features Brandon McManus (20 goals/24 assists/44 points/+17 rating) and Jeremy Hanzel (3 goals/23 assists/26 points/+4 rating) on offense as the as the team is averaging 2.93 goals per game. Combined with a steady defense (allowing 2.63 goals per game) and Tyler Brennan in goal (8-7-1-1 record/2.64 goals allowed average/.909 save percentage), with a win against Atlanta tonight, they'll win the series and potentially break their tie for 2nd place in the ECHL North Division.
Atlanta's team defense still leads the league in goals allowed per game, as they are barely giving up 2 goals per game thus far (a 2.14 goals allowed per game average). Ethan Haider is between the pipes (as tonight's goaltender) this evening (16-5-0-0 record/2.30 goals allowed average/.926 save percentage/1 shutout) as the Glads focus on evening the series and potentially breaking their tie for the top spot in the ECHL South with the Florida Everblades (who have played 3 more games than the Gladiators). On offense (which is averaging 3.05 goals per game), leading scorer Chad Nychuk (6 goals/33 assists/39 points/+29 rating) is among 4 players on the team with 30 or more points.
To heighten the atmosphere and keeping with the Valentine's Day spirit, it's the Love on the Ice featuring the Teddy Bear Toss. Fans hope for an early Atlanta score, as once the home teams scores their 1st goal of the game, a cascade of teddy bears and other stuffed animals are thrown on the ice (leading to a game stoppage and collection as all items are donated to area children's hospitals and related entities). Combined with a few couples renewing their vows, love is in the air.
And as for both teams, their love for the game and pursuit of their division and potential playoff positioning is center-stage.
Game recap: Adirondack's fast start has the Glads playing from behind as they win the 2nd game of the series.
Adirondack would get off to a fast start to chase Atlanta early in the game.
Tag Bertuzzi's 10th goal of the season (2:16 in the 1st period) gives the Thunder a 1-0 lead (assisted by Brannon McManus and Chase McLane). They would add their second goal at the 8:04 mark as Alex Campbell's 6th goal of the season (assisted by Patrick Grasso and Jacob Graves) gives them a 2-0 lead.
The physical play between the teams which surfaces around the middle of the 1st period would ramp up in the 2nd period. Likewise, the Thunder add to their lead as Matt Salhany's 10th goal of the year (assisted by Ryan Wheeler at the 5:24 mark of the 2nd period) extends their lead to 3-0.
The Glads would get back in the game thanks to Nolan Orzeck's 6th goal of the season (6:30 in the 2nd period/assisted by Isak Walther and Joey Cipollone). The deficit is cut to a 3-1 score and ushers in a moment the fans are waiting for, as they toss teddy bears and other stuffed animals on the ice as part of the Teddy Bear Toss (a total of 11,109 stuffed animals are collected from the ice from the fans in attendance).
In the 3rd period, the Glads would get within 1 goal at the 15:06 mark. Team captain Cody Sylvester nets his 11th goal of the season (assisted by Nolan Orzeck and Joey Cipollone) to make it a 3-2 game.
Inside the 2 minute mark, the Glads pull the goaltender for an extra skater, but at the 18:21 mark of the game, Adirondack scores an empty net goal to make it a 4-2 game. Justin Taylor's goal (his 15th of the season) is unassisted.
The Thunder would close out the game (19:40 in the 3rd period) with another empty net goal by Patrick Grasso (his 7th of the year/assisted by Alex Campbell) and win by a 5-2 score.
Post-game: The Glads' comeback effort falls short as they lose the 2nd game of the series.
While Atlanta has an edge in shots on goal (38 to 30) and on the power play (they convert 1 of 3 chances while Adirondack is 0 for 4), the Thunder's fast start in the 1st period combined with their early 2nd period goal stake them to a 3 goal lead. While the Gladiators' effort gets them back within 1 goal during the 3rd period, they are unable to get any closer.
Leading up to the last game of the series (February 16, 2026 at the Gas South District at 1pm EST), both Head Coach Matt Ginn and Nolan Orzeck speak to the team's effort along with details to focus on to better position themselves for improved outcomes. And while scoring the goal to set off the Teddy Bear Toss provides a spark for the team, it still comes down to fine-tuning a few items with the expectation of snapping their 2-game losing streak and getting a win during this 3-game series (you may watch their responses to our questions below):
Notes: You may watch our 2025-26 season coverage (in-game snapshots and player interviews) by visiting our playlist (click HERE). The Atlanta Gladiators return to action on February 16th at 1pm (at the Gas South District) to close out the 3-game series against the Adirondack Thunder. All tickets for this game are $15.
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