Back at it: A sound performance on the power play and Cody Sylvester's hat trick get the Glads a 5-3 win and back to the .500 mark

Preview: Cincinnati Cyclones (11-19-4-0/26 points/11th place in the ECHL Western Conference) vs Atlanta Gladiators (16-17-3-1/36 points/9th place in the ECHL Eastern Conference)

Today's game (January 12, 2025 at 3pm at the Gas South District) is the second of the 2-game series between the visiting Cincinnati Cyclones, as the Atlanta Gladiators look to get back to the .500 mark. With this being their 3rd game in 3 days (January 10th at Jacksonville and then weathering the elements to return home on January 11th for the first game of the series with Cincinnati), Atlanta is focused on returning to their winning ways.

The Glads' leading scorers Cody Sylvester (11 goals/14 assists/25 points) and team captain Eric Neiley (10 goals/14 assists/24 points) look to challenge the Cyclones' defense (as they are allowing 3.1 goals per game). By the same token, Cincinnati is led by Lincoln Griffin (9 goals/11 assists/20 points) and Chas Sharpe (11 goals/9 assists/20 points), as they look to test an Atlanta defense allowing 3.2 goals per game.

Game highlights: The Glads take advantage on the power play and Cody Sylvester's hat trick to earn the win and get back to the .500 mark.

The Cyclones take an early 1-0 lead (14:36) in the 1st period on Tristan Ashbrook's 7th goal of the season (assisted by Jacob Benglsson and Chris Dodero). They would make it a 2-0 lead at the 6:09 mark of the 2nd period on Lincoln Griffin's 10th goal of the season (assisted by Dante Sheriff and Rhett Parsons).

The Glads would cut into the lead just 1 minute later (7:23) as Connor Galloway's 1st goal as a Gladiator makes it a 2-1 game (assisted by Patrika Marcinkevics). The Cyclones would strike back on the power play in the next minute (8:30) as Dante Sheriff's 5th goal of the season (assists by Lincoln Griffin and Chas Sharpe) give them a 3-1 lead.

However, Atlanta battles back with a power play goal of their own (12:36) as Cody Sylvester's goal (his 12th of the season assisted by Derek Topatigh and Blake Murray) gets them back in the game (3-2).

In the 3rd period (3:07), Easton Armstrong nets the game-tying goal (his 8th of the season assisted by Ryan Cranford and Patriks Marcinkevics) to get the Glads back in the game (3-3). At the 9:28 mark of the 3rd period, after official review, the Glads' Cody Sylvester's put-back (13th of the season assisted by Jackson Pierson and Easton Armstrong) is credited as a goal to give the team a 4-3 lead (their first lead of the game).

Even with the Cyclones pulling their goaltender for an extra skater, the Glads would hold off the late push for a hard-fought win and getting back to the .500 mark, capping off the win with an empty net goal at the 19:12 mark thanks to Cody Sylvester's 3rd of the game (hat trick) and 14th of the season.

The Glads' performance on the power play (they go 2 for 6 while the Cyclones go 1 for 4) plays a role in their win. Complimented by Ethan Haider's performance in goal (turning away 27 of 30 shots en route to his 13th win of the season). During post-game, the Glads' Anthony Firriolo (defenseman), Cody Sylvester (forward), Derek Nesbitt (Head Coach), Connor Galloway (forward), and Ethan Halder (goaltender) field our questions as they look forward to a few days off before their next game.

The Gladiators look to go on another winning run as their next game is January 17th (7:30pm at the Gas South District) as they host the Orlando Solar Bears.

Notes: All video and the first photo grid are done by asnortonccs; the second photo grid is done by EmoryRose Photography. For the 2024-25 season playlist, click HERE (and subscribe).