Powered by a two-goal night from Tyler Murovich, which included the overtime game-winner, the Atlanta Gladiators defeated the Adirondack Thunder by a score of 3-2 at the Infinite Energy Arena on Friday night.
Adirondack opened the game's scoring with a strike 3:43 into the contest. After Greg Wolfe wristed a shot on net that was redirected wide, Brett Pollock collected the puck. The rookie then skated behind the net before he sent a pass to the slot, where Dennis Kravchenko whistled a shot that hit off the crossbar and fell into the net. The goal was the California native’s 10th of the season, and put the visitors ahead 1-0.
The Gladiators would get on the board and tie the game at 1-1 with a tally 14:37 into the first period. Trevor Mingoia maneuvered through the offensive zone with the puck and delivered a pass to Rory Rawlyk in the left circle. The 14th year pro then tossed a pass to Murovich, who went forehand/backhand and then slid the puck through the legs of Mason McDonald, the Adirondack goaltender, for his 14th goal of the year.
Atlanta then took their first lead of the game 18:37 into the middle frame. Eric Neiley increased his team lead in goals as he notched his 21st of the season with a quick shot from the far post that beat McDonald short side. Mark Naclerio was credited with his 12th assist of year on the goal that put the Gladiators ahead 2-1.
The visitors would even the game at 2-2 with a tally 6:56 into the third period. The Thunder capitalized on an Atlanta turnover and brought the puck into the zone on a 2-on-1. Kravchenko carried the puck into the zone and then out-waited the defender and sent a pass to Stepan Falkovsky, who blasted in his 16th goal of the year past the blocker of Atlanta rookie goalie Dan Vladar.
With the game tied at 2-2 after 60 minutes of regulation, the two teams headed to sudden death 3-on-3 overtime to decide the winner. After Justin Buzzeo handled the puck in his offensive zone, he saucered a pass over to Murovich who buried his second of the night to give Atlanta the 3-2 overtime win.
The home win improved the Gladiators to 19-24-6-1 on the season and kept Atlanta in sixth in the South Division with 45 points. Meanwhile, Adirondack dropped to 26-14-5-4 with the loss but remained in third in the North Division with 61 points.
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