The series began on Wednesday (11/4) with Atlanta coming from a one-goal deficit in the final period to down Idaho by a goal, 5-4, despite being outshot by the home team by a 34-27 count.
The Gladiators jumped to a 3-0 lead in the 1st period before the Steelheads lit the lamp twice in 11 seconds to pull to within a goal. The scoring barrage set a league record for “fastest three goals scored,” 23 seconds. Idaho then found the back of the net two more times in second stanza to grab a 4-3 advantage as the final 20 minutes got underway. Atlanta scored a shorthanded goal, their second of the night, to even the score at 4-all at 3:36 of the period before taking the lead for good at 9:49.
Matt Ginn (2-0) made his second start between the pipes since joining Atlanta, following a 32 save effort in a win against Greenville with 30 saves on 34 shots in picking up his second with the Gladiators. The goalie was assigned to the Gladiators on October 28 by Providence of the AHL.
Atlanta Scoring
1. Tyler Murovich, (2) (Daniel Bahntge, Tyler Shiplo), 3:11
1. Garry Nunn,(2) (Thomas Frazee, Brad Navin), 3:59
1. Brock Higgs, (3) (Mike Merrifield), 19:36 (SH)
3. Navin, (2) 3:36 (SH)
3. Derek Nesbitt, (6) (Joe Stejskal), 9:49
The middle game of the set went to overtime before Atlanta won by the same 5-4 final. The clubs were knotted at 2 at the end of the 1st period, then 3-3 at the end of the middle stanza, and 4-4 at the conclusion of the 3rd period. The Gladiators scored in the 3-on-3 OT to their fourth consecutive win-all coming on the road.
Ginn (3-0) made 27 saves for Atlanta on 31 Idaho shots in earning his third win of the season.
Atlanta Scoring
1.Nesbitt, (7) (Zach Yuen, Nunn), 5:29 (PP)
1. Murovich, (3) (Merrifield), 8:04
2. Nathan Condon, (2) (Shiplo), 15:36
3. Higgs, (4) (Yuen, Nunn), 1:10 (PP)
OT. Merrifield, (1) (Yuen, Higgs) 4:02
Atlanta scored single goals in each of the first two periods while keeping Idaho out of the net in Saturday’s game to hold a 2-0 advantage going to the final 20 minutes of regulation play. The clubs exchanged goals in the 3rd period as the Gladiators locked up their fifth consecutive win, 3-1. For the second time in the series, Idaho outshot Atlanta (32-21) in a losing cause.
Kent Patterson (2-1, 3.76 GAA) started in goal for Atlanta, stopping 31 of 32 Idaho shots on the way to his second win of the season.
Atlanta Scoring
1. Max Everson, (2) (Shiplo, Merrifield), 15:29 PP
2. Higgs, (5) (Justin Buzzeo, Condon), 3:52
3. Eric Neiley, (1), 19:48 (Empty Net)
Points Update
Nesbitt-11 (7G, 4A)
Nunn-11 (2G, 9A)
Frazee-9 (1G, 8A)
Higgs-9 (5G, 4A)
Yuen-6 (1G, 5A)
Condon-6 (2G, 4A)
Merrifield-5 (1G, 4A)
Shiplo-5 (1G, 4A)
Navin-3 (2G, 1A)
Murovich-3 (3G)
Everson-2 (2G)
Buzzeo-2 (2A)
Stejskai-1 (1A)
Bahntge-1 (1A)
Neiley-1 (1G)
The Gladiators play home games at the 11,355-seat Arena at Infinite Energy Center (formerly the Arena at Gwinnett Center) which is located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. Parking is always free.
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