Gladiators Haunt Ghost Pirates

SAVANNAH, Ga. - The Atlanta Gladiators (20-9-2-0) scored four goals in the third period en route to a 5-3 victory over the Savannah Ghost Pirates (10-16-5-0) and extended their win streak to four games Thursday night at the Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia.

BOX SCORE

First Star: Cody Sylvester (ATL) - 1 goal, 2 assists

Second Star: Eric Neiley (ATL) - 1 goal, 1 assist

Third Star: Tristan Thompson (SAV) - 1 goal, 1 assist

Both goaltenders stood tall in the first period to make sure they did not give up an early edge as the period ended tied 0-0, Atlanta led 13-11 in the shot department.

Savannah broke the ice early in the second period to make it 1-0 (14:54). 

A red-hot Cody Sylvester responded for Atlanta just over a minute later (13:09). Sylvester, scoring in his fourth-straight game, broke in on a breakaway for his 13th tally of the season. 

The Ghost Pirates regained their lead with just under ten minutes remaining in the second period making it 2-1 (8:11).

Atlanta struck early in the third period to tie the game (17:28). Sanghoon Shin sent a puck on net from a sharp angle that made its way into the net to even things at two.

Eric Neiley netted a goal of his own just over twenty seconds later to give Atlanta its first lead of the night (17:03). Neiley picked up a puck in front of the Ghost Pirates net and sent it home to make it 3-2.

Kaid Oliver tipped home a Derek Topatigh point shot just four minutes later to double Atlanta’s lead to 4-2 (13:02).

Savannah trimmed the Gladiators lead to just one goal late in the third period making it 4-3 (4:23). 

Odeen Tufto sealed the victory for Atlanta with just over a minute to go in the contest (1:07). Tufto sent the puck into an empty Savannah net to make it 5-3.

David Tendeck made 11 saves on 12 shots in relief of Tyler Parks to pick up the win. Isaiah Saville stopped 30 shots in the loss for Savannah.