DULUTH, Ga. – The Atlanta Gladiators (3-2-0-0) closed out the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (2-2-1-0) by hanging on to a 2-1 win at Gas South Arena on Tuesday night. Eric Neiley and Brandon Schultz did the scoring for the Gladiators, while goaltender Tyler Parks allowed just one goal on 25 Greenville shots.
FIRST STAR: Eric Neiley (ATL) – game-winning goal
SECOND STAR: Brandon Schultz (ATL) - goal
THIRD STAR: Bode Wilde (ATL) - assist
The Gladiators jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first period thanks to Brandon Schultz’s second tally of the season (9:46). Shultz deked through two Greenville defenders before sliding the puck past Swamp Rabbits goaltender David Hrenak.
Eric Neiley extended Atlanta’s lead early in the second period with his first tally of the season (1:49). Neiley struck on the power play after receiving the puck from Cody Sylvester and Mike Pelech. The assist for Cody Sylvester came in his 200th ECHL game.
Greenville responded late in the second after Nikita Pavlychev found Alex Ierullo on the left post to cut Atlanta’s lead to 2-1 (18:12).
The Swamp Rabbits threatened with two power plays in the third period, but goaltender Tyler Parks and the Gladiators stood their ground and kept Greenville off the board. Atlanta finished going 4-for-4 on the penalty kill for the night and are now 18-for-19 for the season. Parks finished his second win of the season with 24 saves on 25 shots.