Orlando, FL – The Atlanta Gladiators defeated the Orlando Solar Bears 4-1 at Kia Center on Sunday to improve to 1-0-1 on the road trip. Jack O’Brien finished the day with 2 goals and 2 assists in the victory.
In the midst of their longest road trip of the season, the Gladiators made their way to central Florida for the first game of a back-to-back with the Solar Bears. Ethan Haider started in net for the Gladiators, while Jon Gillies got the nod for the Solar Bears.
Orlando was ready to make some noise off of the opening faceoff, generating chances and at one point, outshot the Gladiators 7-1. Atlanta was able to settle into the game and was able to create some chances of its own, in a period that ultimately ended up being scoreless. Orlando outshot Atlanta 10-5 after one period of play.
The Gladiators took the lead 3:52 into the second period with a power play goal from Alex Young, assisted by Jack O’Brien and Chad Nychuk. Young fired a shot from the top of the right circle that beat Gillies for the score. Atlanta turned the tide of the game in the middle fame and outshot Orlando 14-7 in the second period and 19-17 through two periods.
Atlanta took command of the game in the third period, scoring its second power play goal of the day 2:19 into the period from Isak Walther to take a 2-0 lead. Walther’s 15th goal of the year was assisted by Young and O’Brien. The Solar Bears responded with a power play goal of their own, when Spencer Kersten scored 6:05 into the third to make it 2-1. Jack O’Brien slammed the door on a potential Orlando comeback shut, scoring with 12:34 left from Jack Matier and Mike McNamee to go up 3-1, and later with 8:51 to go, unassisted to take a 4-1 lead. The Gladiators outshot the Solar Bears 34-27 in the victory. Atlanta went 2/5 on the power play and 2/3 on the penalty kill. Ethan Haider stopped 26/27 for his 13th win of the year as Atlanta improved to 24-9-1 on the season.
The Gladiators and the Solar Bears meet again on Monday night at Kia Center at 7:00 PM EST. Coverage on the Gladiators Broadcast Network on FloHockey and YouTube begins at 6:40 PM as the Gladiators longest road trip of the year continues.
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