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ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Game Preview: Solar Bears at Kalamazoo Wings - February 23

February 23, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Who: Orlando Solar Bears (Minnesota Wild/Toronto Maple Leafs)

(30-16-1-2, 63pts, 2nd, Eastern Conference) vs.

Kalamazoo Wings (Vancouver Canucks/St. Louis Blues)

(29-17-1-3, 62pts, 3rd, Eastern Conference)

Where: Wings Stadium - Kalamazoo, MI

When: 3:00 p.m.

Listen Live: iHeartSolarBears.com, 740thegame.com, iheart.com/live/601/ - Pregame starts at 2:45 p.m.

Watch Live: America One

Follow: Game Updates on Twitter at @OSBHockeyGU

Social Media: Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Matchup:

The Solar Bears continue on their three game road trip this afternoon as they face the Kalamazoo Wings for the first time this season. Orlando is playing their third game in three nights, after taking two straight victories over the Toledo Walleye on Friday and Saturday. Friday night's game saw the Solar Bears jump out to a 3-0 first period lead only to see it shrink to 3-2 early in the second. The Solar Bears then answered back with four straight goals to take a 7-3 victory. Last night, Toledo got on the board with a goal 28 seconds into the first period before F Scott Tanski tallied for Orlando with less than a minute left in the first. The lone second period goal belonged to Toledo as they took a 2-1 lead into the third. Orlando battled back in the final frame, getting a goal from F Tyler Murovich to tie the game followed by a shorthanded goal from F Taylor Matson to put Orlando ahead for the first time in the game by a three 3-2 score. F Aaron Clarke answered back for Toledo to knot the game up at 3-3, and then with 1:44 left in the contest Matson slammed home his second of the game on a wrap around opportunity to lift Orlando to the win. The Wings were last in action on Monday night, taking a closely contested 4-3 decision over the Cincinnati Cyclones. After the two sides traded goals to bring the game to a 2-2 score, Kalamazoo earned their first lead of the contest with a goal from F Justin Taylor late in the second frame. The Cyclones tied the contest up at 3-3 with a goal 26 seconds into the third, but the Wings answered with what would be the game winner at 2:36 to take the win.

Solar Bears Notes:

F Mickey Lang was named the ECHL's Player of the Week for last week after scoring seven goals and collecting eight points in four games. He currently leads the ECHL with 30 goals and nine power play goals and is on nine game point streak (10 goals, 7 assists)... D Blake Kessel is on a nine game point streak (3 goals, 7 assists) and is tied for fifth among ECHL defensemen with 30 points... Orlando has won eight straight games, their longest winning streak since joining the ECHL... The Solar Bears are fifth in the ECHL averaging 3.20 goals per game... G Cody Reichard has won six straight starts for the longest winning streak by a Solar Bears goaltender dating back to last season... D Bryce Aneloski is fourth among rookies with a +16 rating... The Solar Bears are tied for fourth in the league on the penalty kill at 86.6% (161-for-186)... F Mickey Lang leads the Solar Bears with 30 goals and 50 points... D Blake Kessel leads the team with 23 assists... F Mike Ullrich, F Josh Caron, D Colton Jobke, and G John Curry remain in the AHL with the Iowa Wild... G Garret Sparks, F Kory Nagy, and F Mike Duco remain in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies... F Trevor Gillies remains in the AHL with Abbotsford Heat... G Tyler Beskorowany remains in the AHL with St. John's IceCaps.

Wings Notes:

D Sam Ftorek is tied for fourth in the league with eight power play goals. He leads all defensemen with 36 points and is tied for second among defensemen with 11 goals and 25 assists... Kalamazoo is 16-8-2 when being outshot by their opponents... F Justin Taylor is tied for third with three shorthanded goals... F Matt Caria is tied for second among rookies with 17 goals and is fifth in the league with a 22.4 shooting percentage (17 goals on 76 shots)... G Jordan Binnington is seventh in the league with a 2.33 GAA and is tied for fourth with a .922 save percentage... D Sam Ftorek leads Kalamazoo with 36 points and 25 assists... F Matt Caria leads Kalamazoo with 17 goals... Kalamazoo is 8th on the power play at 16.5% (32-for-194) and 11th on the penalty kill at 84.3% (188-for-223).

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