Estero, FL – The Atlanta Gladiators defeated the Florida Everblades 2-0 on Wednesday night at Hertz Arena to improve to 3-0-1 on their road trip. Ethan Haider stopped all 22 shots he saw for his first shutout of the season and the fifth of his professional career.

The Gladiators continued their seven-game road trip with a stop in South Florida to take on the division leading Everblades. Coming off of back-to-back wins over Orlando, the Gladiators looked to continue their winning ways against the Everblades starting reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Week Ethan Haider in net. The Everblades gave the nod to the reigning ECHL Goaltender of the Year, Cam Johnson.

Atlanta opened the scoring 4:25 into the first period with a goal from Nolan Orzeck. Orzeck fired a shot from the right point that hit a defenseman in front of Johnson and went into the back of the net to give Atlanta a 1-0 lead. Orzeck’s 5^th of the year was assisted by Alex Young and Isak Walther. The rest of the period was scoreless, with both teams going 1/1 on the penalty kill and Atlanta outshooting Florida 7-4.

The second period was scoreless, with the Gladiators getting a few more chances on the power play. Ethan Haider made some spectacular saves as the game went on, as Florida went on to outshoot Atlanta 8-4 in the second period.

The intensity ramped up in the third period as Florida pressed to tie the game. Atlanta opened the third period with a power play after a roughing penalty to Sean Allen at the end of the second period but couldn’t capitalize. Later in the period, Florida had an opportunity on the power play but the Gladiators were able to strip the puck away and move up ice in a 2 on 1. Burns fired a shot that was stopped by Johnson, but the rebound went right to Jack O’Brien who scored his 17^th goal of the season to make it a 2-0 Atlanta lead with 11:31 left in the third. O’Brien’s shorthanded goal was his first shorthanded goal of his professional career. Haider was clutch down the stretch as he and the Gladiators closed out the Everblades for the shutout victory. Haider stopped 22/22 for his 5^th professional shutout – all with the Gladiators – tying Jeff Jakaitis and Louis Domingue for 2^nd most in Gladiators history. Atlanta has two shutout wins this season, and they were both 2-0 wins over Florida at Hertz Arena.

The Gladiators are back in action for the middle game of the three-game set against Florida on Friday night at Hertz Arena. Atlanta is now 3-0-1 on its seven-game road trip and is showing no signs of slowing down. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM with coverage on the Gladiators Broadcast Network beginning at 7:10 PM EST.