ECHL: Atlanta Gladiators vs Savannah Ghost Pirates | 11/08/2025

Savannah opened the scoring on a backdoor finish, with Koopman sliding the puck past Haider after a sharp cross-ice feed from Granowicz. The sequence showcased crisp puck movement and patience from the home side, putting them ahead 1–0.

Atlanta responded with poise, tightening its defensive coverage and pushing the pace at the other end. Strong puck retrieval from Alex Young and steady blue-line play from Chad Nychuk began to tilt momentum back in the Gladiators’ favor.

At 8:51, Atlanta found the equalizer.

GOAL (8:51, 1st): Kalan Lind (1) — from Chad Nychuk and Alex Young

Lind buried his first professional goal after Nychuk threaded a perfect pass through the slot. Young set him up in stride, and Lind ripped a quick-release shot that beat Gerasimyuk cleanly on the blocker side. The goal tied the game at one and gave Atlanta a much-needed boost.

The rest of the period settled into a disciplined, defensive rhythm. Both teams moved the puck well through the neutral zone but found little open ice up front. Haider bounced back from the early goal with several calm, confident saves. At the other end, Gerasimyuk stood tall, turning aside Joey Cipollone’s sharp-angle bid late in the frame to keep things even after twenty minutes.

End of 1st Period Stats

Score: Atlanta 1 – Savannah 1
Shots on Goal: Atlanta 15 – Savannah 8
Power Plays: ATL 0/0 | SAV 0/0
Penalties: None
Goaltenders: ATL – Haider (7 SV on 8); SAV – Gerasimyuk (14 SV on 15)

Second Period

The second period stayed tight, with both teams trading chances but unable to break the 1–1 tie. Atlanta drove most of the early play, keeping steady pressure in the offensive zone with crisp puck movement and strong shifts from their top lines.

Just 2:57 into the frame, Hunter Johannes was called for unsportsmanlike conduct, sending the Gladiators to their first power play. On the man advantage, Lind fired a hard wrist shot from the left circle, but Gerasimyuk kicked it aside with a sharp blocker save.

Once Savannah returned to full strength, Atlanta stayed on the attack. Ethan Scardina nearly found the go-ahead goal, slipping into space near the crease, but Gerasimyuk stayed calm and turned him away again.

At the other end, Haider came up with his own statement save, robbing Mitchell Russell on a backdoor chance to keep the Ghost Pirates off the board. Both goaltenders settled into a rhythm, trading key stops as the period rolled on.

With 10:28 left, Ryan Nolan forced a turnover high in the Savannah zone and snapped a quick shot that rang off the post and out. Moments later, Matt Koopman charged toward the net and tested Haider, who deflected the puck aside with his blocker. Atlanta responded immediately — Ryan Conroy jumped into the rush and fired high, just missing the corner. On the next shift, Mickey Burns broke free on a clean breakaway, but Gerasimyuk shut the door once more, keeping the game locked at one heading into the final period.

End of 2nd Period Stats

Score: Atlanta 1 – Savannah 1
Shots on Goal (2nd): ATL 8 – SAV 11 | Total: ATL 23 – SAV 19
Power Plays: Atlanta 0/1 | Savannah 0/1
Goaltenders: ATL – Haider (18 SV on 19); SAV – Gerasimyuk (22 SV on 23)

Third Period

The final period continued the defensive chess match, with both teams leaning on their goaltenders and committed shot-blocking units. Early offsetting minors to Mike McNamee and Zabaneh opened up the ice, but neither side could capitalize before returning to full strength.

Savannah started to tilt the ice midway through the frame, firing from all angles and forcing Haider to stay sharp. Cole Krygier created one of the Ghost Pirates’ best looks, cutting to the slot and snapping a low shot that Haider gloved cleanly. Moments later, Brendan Less dropped to one knee to block a point blast, keeping the score locked at one as Savannah pressed hard for the go-ahead goal.

Ryan Nolan was called for hooking at 5:02, giving Savannah a key power play, but Haider and Atlanta’s penalty killers stayed organized, clearing rebounds and shutting down shooting lanes to keep it even.

As the clock wound down, both teams traded narrow misses and desperate defensive stands. Savannah’s pressure built late, but Haider’s composure never wavered. On the other end, Joey Cipollone picked off a neutral-zone pass and raced in on a breakaway, ripping a quick shot toward the blocker side—only for Gerasimyuk to stretch out for a highlight save.

Neither side could break through, and after sixty minutes of tense, grinding hockey, the game headed to overtime tied 1–1 at Enmarket Arena.

End of 3rd Period Stats

Score: Atlanta 1 – Savannah 1
Shots (3rd): ATL 4 – SAV 11 | Total: ATL 27 – SAV 30
Power Plays: ATL 0/3 | SAV 0/4
Goaltenders: ATL – Haider (29 SV / 30 SH); SAV – Gerasimyuk (26 SV / 27 SH)

Overtime

In the extra frame, the Gladiators struck when it mattered most.

Cody Sylvester created the first spark of overtime, cutting toward the crease off a slick feed from Louis Boudon, but the puck skipped past his blade before he could get the shot off. Atlanta regrouped quickly, showing patience with the puck as both teams looked for clean possession in the wide-open three-on-three setup.

Moments later, Isak Walther forced the play back into the offensive zone with a hard drive, drawing a delayed penalty as he battled through a hooking penalty along the boards. The Gladiators kept the play alive, cycling the puck between Alex Young and Jack Matier.

Seeing a seam open, Young slid a pass toward Matier, who stepped into it without hesitation. His low wrist shot cut through a maze of legs and found the back of the net at 6:40 of overtime, beating Kirill Gerasimyuk cleanly and sealing the 2–1 victory for Atlanta.

GOAL (6:40, OT): Jack Matier (1) — from Alex Young and Isak Walther

End of Overtime Stats

Score: Atlanta 2 – Savannah 1 (Final/OT)
Shots (OT): ATL 5 – SAV 1 | Total: ATL 32 – SAV 31
Game-Winning Goal: Jack Matier (6:40 OT)
Goaltenders: ATL – Haider (30 SV / 31 SH); SAV – Gerasimyuk (30 SV / 32 SH)

Atlanta outshot Savannah 5–1 in the extra frame, sealing a hard-earned 2–1 victory to close out the night at Enmarket Arena.

Final Score: Atlanta 2 – Savannah 1 (OT)
Shots: ATL 32 – SAV 31
Game-Winning Goal: Jack Matier (6:40 OT)

Final Summary

In a goaltending duel that went the distance, the Atlanta Gladiators edged the Savannah Ghost Pirates 2–1 in overtime at Enmarket Arena. Ethan Haider stopped 30 of 31 shots, while Kirill Gerasimyuk turned aside 30 of 32 in a losing effort.

Kalan Lind opened the scoring for Atlanta in the first, and Matt Koopman answered early for Savannah. After a scoreless final 40 minutes, Jack Matier sealed it in overtime, giving Atlanta its second road win of the season and snapping Savannah’s two-game streak.

Final Score: Atlanta 2 – Savannah 1 (OT)
Shots: ATL 32 – SAV 31
Attendance: 7,485 | Enmarket Arena

Three Stars of the Game

– Ethan Haider (30 SV, .968 SV%)