Glads Shutout Stingrays 4-0 on Teddy Bear Toss

Powered by multi-point performances from Daniel Bahntge and Derek Nesbitt, and backed by shutout goaltending from Matt Ginn, the Atlanta Gladiators defeated the South Carolina Stingrays by a score of 4-0 on Teddy Bear Toss Night at the Infinite Energy Arena on Saturday evening.With a strike just 4:48 into the game, Justin Buzzeo notched his 13th goal of the season and commenced the mayhem as stuffed animals flew to the ice on the Gladiators 14th annual Teddy Bear Toss night. Tommy Vannelli corralled the puck in his defensive zone before he skated up the ice and sent a pass to Brock Higgs. The product of R.P.I. then brought the puck into the zone and dropped a pass to Buzzeo, who ripped a shot over the blocker of South Carolina goalie, Parker Milner, for Atlanta’s early 1-0 lead.The Gladiators would then double their lead to go ahead 2-0 with 17:47 remaining in the second period. Mark Naclerio managed to line a shot into the net from one knee in the low slot for his third goal of the season. Both Bahntge and Nesbitt added their names to the scoresheet with helpers on the play.Atlanta then added a power play tally 11:12 into the middle frame to take a 3-0 lead. Cason Hohmann corralled the puck at the far circle and then faked a pass Higgs, before he sent it to Josh Atkinson at the point. The rookie defender then blasted a shot from just below the blue line that was deflected in front by Bahntge for the Ohio native's first goal of the season.The home team would then seal the victory with an empty goal by Nesbitt to put his team ahead 4-0. The tally was a historic one for the Atlanta Captain, as he scored his 91st goal as a Gladiator to set the all-time team record. The goal was Nesbitt’s 18th of the year and came unassisted at the 18:25 mark of the final period.The win improved Atlanta to 16-18-5-1 on the year and left the team in sixth in the South Division with 38 points. Meanwhile, South Carolina dropped to 21-14-1-1 with the loss and remained in third in the division with 44 points.