Stung by the Stingrays: South Carolina's 4-goal 1st period results in an uphill battle as the Atlanta Gladiators fall by a 6-3 score

Preview: South Carolina Stingrays (19-9-2-1/41 points/5th place in the ECHL Eastern Conference) vs Atlanta Gladiators (16-14-3-1/36 points/tied for 7the ECHL Eastern Conference)

Coming into their home-game at the Gas South District (January 8, 2025 at 7pm EST), the Atlanta Gladiators' recent play sees them moving up the ECHL Eastern Conference standings as they are approaching the midpoint of the season. They return home after splitting a 2-game series at Savannah to face a familiar foe, the South Carolina Stingrays (who they defeated on January 3, 2025).

The Stingrays come into tonight's game looking for some payback as they look to improve their position in the ECHL Eastern Conference (currently 5th). Kyler Kupka (14 goals/15 assists/29 points) and Austin Magera (5 goals/21 assists/26 points) lead an offense averaging nearly 4 goals per game (3.9) as they look to give Glads' goalie Drew DeRidder (4-7-3 with 2 shutouts/2.99 GAA and a .906 save percentage) a difficult time between the pipes.

Cody Sylvester (11 goals/14 assists/25 points) and team captain Eric Neiley (10 goals/14 assists/24 points) lead the Atlanta offense as they look to give South Carolina goaltender Gavin Bjorklund (5-3-0-1/1.94 GAA and a .931 save percentage) a challenging time as well.

Game recap: South Carolina's 4-goal first period puts Atlanta in an uphill clip resulting in a 6-3 loss for the Glads.

The Stingrays would waste little time as they jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the first period. Former Gladiator Micah Miller (11th goal of the season at the 1:30 mark, assisted by Zac Funk and Austin Magera) and Ben Hawerchuck's 3rd goal of the season (12:35 mark of the 1st period, assisted by Jacob Graves) put early pressure on the Glads.

Atlanta would cut the deficit to 2-1 at the 12:54 mark of the 1st period as Ryan Cranford nets his 5th goal of the season (assisted by Derek Topatight and Jackson Pierson). However, the Stingrays would strike back with 2 more goals in the period to give them a 4-1 lead over the Glads (Charlie Combs' 9th goal [14:45 assisted by Ryan Hofer and Tyler Weiss] and Erik Middendorf's 14th goal [17:13 assisted by Josh Wilkens and Kyler Kupka). In the 2nd period, the Stingrays would make it a 5-1 game as Kyler Kupka scores his 15th goal of the season (4:46 assisted by Jayden Lee and Blake Thompson). The Gladiators would score an impressive shorthanded goal at the 8:59 mark (Carson Denomie's 6th goal of the season is unassisted) to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Glads would make it a 5-3 game at the 14:54 mark of the 3rd period as Ryan Cranford scores his 2nd goal of the game (6th of the season, assisted by Patrick Marcinkevics and Anthony Firriolo). However, after pulling the goaltender to have an extra skater, the Stingrays would take advantage and score an empty-net goal at the 18:26 mark of the period (Josh Wilkins scores his 10th goal of the season assited by Erik Middendorf) to close out the scoring.

South Carolina has a clear edge in shots on goal (38 to 25) while both teams are even on the power-play (both teams are 0 for 2 although Atlanta scores a shorthanded goal).

Post-game, Atlanta forward Easton Armstrong takes time to speak with us. He notes the areas of focus related to tonight's game and speaks to the upcoming stretch of 3 games over the next 4 days.

Atlanta looks to bounce back this weekend as they are on the road against the Jacksonville Icemen (January 10, 2025) then return home for a 2-game series against the Cincinnati Cyclones for Wizard Night (January 11, 2025 at 7pm EST) and a Sunday afternoon game (January 12, 2025 at 3pm) at the Gas South District.

Notes: All video and photos are recorded by asnortonccs; you may watch and subscribe to our 2024-25 season playlist by clicking HERE.