Duluth, GA – The Savannah Ghost Pirates defeated the Atlanta Gladiators 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night at Gas South Arena. Logan Drevitch buried the overtime winner 57 seconds into the overtime period to give Savannah the win.

The Gladiators and the Ghost Pirates met for the 10^th time this season on Tuesday night, with Atlanta looking to pull within one point of South Carolina for 2^nd place in the division, and Savannah looking to boost its lead over Jacksonville for the final playoff spot in the division. Ethan Haider started in goal for the Gladiators, while Vinnie Purpura got the nod for the Ghost Pirates. Eric Neiley and Brett Bulmer both made their season debuts, with Neiley returning to the Gladiators for the first time since his retirement last year.

The Ghost Pirates opened the scoring 4:32 into the first period, as Peter Laviolette took a turnover in the neutral zone to the goal and scored to give Savannah a 1-0 lead. Savannah had a power play opportunity with 2:29 left in the period, but the Gladiators were able to successfully kill it off. The first period featured back and forth action but ended with a 1-0 Savannah lead, with the Ghost Pirates outshooting the Gladiators 9-8. 

The second period was tight checking and scoreless, with both teams setting up in their defensive structure and holding firm. Haider and Purpura kept it a one score game, making timely saves for their respective teams. There was only one penalty in the second period, with the Gladiators coming up empty handed on the power play about midway through the period. After two periods, Savannah led 1-0 and the shot count 16-13.

The Gladiators broke through in the third period, as Carson Denomie centered a pass from below the goal line to the slot to Eric Neiley, who buried his first of the season to tie the game. Neiley’s goal in his return came 4:55 into the third and made it a 1-1 game. The game would reach its climax late in the third, as Nick Granowicz broke the tie, scoring off of a rebound with 3:54 to play to give Savannah a 2-1 lead. Just 8 seconds later, the Ghost Pirates were awarded a penalty shot, with Jaxsen Wiebe missing the net. Then, in dramatic fashion, the Gladiators tied the game up with 1:33 to go, as Jack O’Brien scored by crashing the net on a Brendan Less shot to make it a 2-2 game. However, with 2.4 seconds left, Neiley was called for delay of game, putting Savannah on a 4v3 power play to begin overtime.

The penalty would prove to be costly, as Logan Drevitch cashed in for the Ghost Pirates 57 seconds into overtime to give Savannah the win. The Gladiators fought to earn a point, pulling within two of second in the division, currently occupied by the Stingrays. Haider stopped 24/27 in the loss, while Purpura stopped 21/23 for the Ghost Pirates. Atlanta went 0/1 on the power play and 1/2 on the penalty kill in the loss. 

There is just one home game left in the regular season – don’t miss out on the action and join the Gladiators on Friday night at 7 PM at Gas South Arena! Friday night is Fan Appreciation Night, get your tickets HERE and join the battle today!