DULUTH, Ga. - The Atlanta Gladiators (18-9-2-0) struck three times in the second period to defeat the Norfolk Admirals (5-23-1-1) 3-2 Saturday afternoon at home and close out 2022 on a two-game win streak.
First Star: Tyler Kobryn (ATL) - 1 goal
Second Star: Noah Laaouan (ATL) - 1 goal
Third Star: Cody Sylvester (ATL) - 1 goal
The first period ended in a 0-0 tie after each team traded scoring opportunities, but both goaltenders stood tall to keep it a scoreless contest after 20 minutes.
Atlanta opened the scoring for the second straight game to make it 1-0 (15:47). Cody Sylvester found the back of the net in consecutive games for the Gladiators as he sent a puck past Norfolk netminder Tomas Vomacka for his 11th of the season.
Norfolk drew their team even just past the midway point of the period to make it 1-1 (7:27).
Noah Laaouan gave the Gladiators a 2-1 lead just three minutes later (4:47). As Malcolm Hayes was in the box serving a tripping penalty, Laaouan blocked a shot from the Admirals and set himself up for a breakaway which he scored on for his third goal of the season.
Tyler Kobryn scored a buzzer beater with one second left on the clock to make it 3-1 (00:01). Kobryn’s goal was number two on the season, and his second in as many nights.
Norfolk netted one early in the third period to trim Atlanta’s lead to 3-2 (17:19). That would be as close as the Admirals got, however, as the Gladiators shut the door the rest of the way.
David Tendeck made 32 saves on 34 shots in the win for Atlanta, Tomas Vomacka stopped 21 shots in the loss for Norfolk.