The Atlanta Gladiators entered the matchup with a 36–17 record and a 4–5–1–0 mark over their last 10 games, placing them fourth in the conference. The South Carolina Stingrays came in second in the conference and had been one of the hottest teams in the league, going 8–1–0–1 in their last 10 games.
Kyler Kupka has led South Carolina in the season series against Atlanta with 10 points (3 goals, 7 assists). For the Gladiators, Isak Walther is tied for sixth among rookies with six power play goals this season.
The Stingrays have also been strong on special teams, ranking second in road penalty killing at 88.5 percent (69 for 78). Atlanta entered the game with an impressive record when protecting late leads, going 25–0–1 when leading after two periods.
These teams know each other well, having met eight times this season. Atlanta holds a 3–3–2 record in the series, while South Carolina has the edge at home with a 2–1 mark.
Ethan Haider got the start in goal for the Gladiators.
In the first period, the teams were evenly matched. It was a clean period with neither team committing a penalty. The Stingrays held a slight edge in shots on goal, 11 to 9.
South Carolina struck first early in the second period when Romain Rodzinski scored, assisted by Patrick Thomas and Simon Pinard, giving the Stingrays a 1–0 lead.
Atlanta responded quickly. At the 5:25 mark of the period, Max Grodin scored his first goal as a Gladiator to tie the game 1–1. Alex Young recorded the assist.
The Gladiators were forced to kill a penalty at 6:19 after being called for too many men on the ice. Entering the game, Atlanta had an 81.5 percent penalty kill rate this season.
After successfully killing the penalty, the Gladiators earned a power play of their own but were unable to convert.
Atlanta then grabbed the momentum when Chad Nychuk scored at the 13:26 mark to give the Gladiators a 2–1 lead.
Later in the period, Stingrays forward Ryan Hofer committed his second penalty, giving Atlanta another opportunity with the man advantage. At 15:38, the Gladiators even had a brief two-man advantage after another South Carolina penalty. However, with the Stingrays owning one of the league’s best road penalty kills, Atlanta was unable to extend the lead.
The Gladiators took a 2–1 advantage into the second intermission.
Early in the third period, Mike McNamee took the Gladiators’ second penalty of the game, giving South Carolina a power play. Atlanta successfully killed the penalty, keeping the game tied.
The Gladiators then regained the lead when Alex Young scored his 24th goal of the season, putting Atlanta ahead 3–1. However, the Stingrays responded with two quick goals from Rodzinski at 8:21 and 14:14, tying the game at 3–3. His third of the night, giving him hat trick
With the score deadlocked, the game headed into overtime.
Neither team was able to score in overtime, sending the game to a shootout. First up, Chad Nychuk converted for the Gladiators. Alex Young was next but was stopped by the Stingrays’ goaltender. Jake O’Brien took the third attempt and sealed the win with the decisive goal, giving Atlanta the victory.
The Gladiators will return to action on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. for College Night #3, facing off against the Jacksonville team.
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