Back-to-Back Losses: Thunder Top Gladiators 5-2 on Teddy Bear Toss Night

The Adirondack Thunder defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 5-2 on Saturday night at Gas South Arena to take the middle game of the three-game set. Adirondack jumped out to a 3-0 lead and were able to outlast an Atlanta comeback to spoil Teddy Bear Toss night in Duluth.

After falling 4-1 in Friday night’s affair, the Gladiators looked to bounce back on the teddy bear toss game on Valentine’s Day. Ethan Haider got the start in net for the Gladiators while Tyler Brennan started in goal for the Thunder.

Similar to Friday night, the Thunder got off to another hot start, scoring 2:16 into the first period to take a 1-0 lead. Tag Bertuzzi scored off the rush from Brannon McManus and Chase McLane to open the scoring. Adirondack buzzed out to a 2-0 lead with another goal 8:04 into the first as Alex Campbell put in a rebound from Patrick Grasso and Jacob Graves. Haider made the initial save but Campbell fired in the rebound to double the Thunder lead. After one period of play Adirondack led 2-0, but Atlanta led the shot count 16-10.

The Thunder extended their lead to 3-0 with a score from Matt Salhany 5:24 into the second period. Ryan Wheeler dumped the puck in deep and it oddly caromed off the boards to the net front where Salhany popped it in. 6:30 into the middle frame, the wait was finally over. Out of a TV timeout, the Gladiators rushed up ice, as Walther found Orzeck trailing for the Gladiators first goal of the ice and the teddy bear goal. Orzeck’s 6th goal of the season from Walther and Cipollone made it a 3-1 game. Fans poured plushies onto the ice, with the total count reaching 11,109. Orzeck’s goal would be the final goal of the second period, as after two periods the Thunder led 3-1 and the shot count was tied at 22 apiece.

The Gladiators rallied in the third period to pull within one goal with a power play goal with 4:54 left on the clock. Cody Sylvester scored his 11th goal of the season from Orzeck and Cipollone to make it a 3-2 game. The Thunder were able to survive, scoring two empty net goals from Justin Taylor and Patrick Grasso in the final two minutes to make it a 5-2 final score. Atlanta outshot Adirondack 38-30 by the night’s end but it ultimately wasn’t enough to overcome the early deficit. Brennan stopped 36/38 for the Thunder while Haider stopped 25/28 for the Gladiators. Atlanta went 1/3 on the power play and 3/3 on the penalty kill in the loss, falling to 31-12-1 on the season.