ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - March 26

March 26, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Who: Orlando (28-33-3-4, 63pts) vs.

Florida Everblades (Carolina Hurricanes/Tampa Bay Lightning) (35-22-4-7, 81pts)

Where: Amway Center - Orlando, FL

When: 7:00 p.m. - Amway doors open at 6:00 p.m.

Listen Live: iHeartSolarBears.com, 740thegame.com, iheart.com/live/601/ - Pregame starts at 6:45 p.m.

Watch Live: America One

Follow: Game Updates on Twitter at @OSBHockeyGU

Social Media: Follow on Facebook and Twitter

Matchup:

Orlando and Florida come together for the first of a four game set as each wraps up the regular season. The first two contests take place at the Amway Center in Orlando, where the Solar Bears have collected a 4-1-0-0 record against their South Florida rivals. The Solar Bears were last in action on Sunday afternoon, as 9,329 fans watched G Patrick Killeen turn aside 31 of 32 shots to lead Orlando to a 2-1 win over the Cincinnati Cyclones. Both of Orlando's goals came from defensemen, as D Michael Wilson tallied on the power play midway through the first period to tie the game at 1-1, and D Derick Martin scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the second frame. The Everblades faced the Cyclones twice last week, falling by a 6-2 final score to Cincinnati on Friday night and coming back with a 5-1 win Saturday. The Everblades struck for two shorthanded goals, both from F Rocco Carzo, in a 2:37 span to reverse a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 lead, and never looked back in the victory. The Solar Bears are 7-4-1-0 against the Everblades this season.

Solar Bears Notes:

G Patrick Killeen started all three Solar Bears games last week, stopping 102 of 107 shots as well as earning his first shutout as a Solar Bear with a 4-0 blanking of the Greenville Road Warriors on Wednesday... D Derick Martin's second period goal on Sunday was his first of the season, and stood up as the game winning goal... The Solar Bears have surrendered just one power play goal against in their last 24 opportunities against... Orlando is 12-0-0-3 when scoring at least four goals at home... D Ryan Blair was placed on the 21-day IR on Wednesday... G Mike Brodeur, D Josh Caron, F Dan Dries, D Jesse Dudas, D Sean Lorenz, and C Mathew Sisca remain on the 21-day IR... F Chris Lawrence has not played since March 2 and is not expected to play today... F Scott Tanski was remains out of the lineup and is not expected to play tonight... Forward C.J. Severyn remains in the AHL with the Charlotte Checkers.

Goaltender Bryce Merriam Becomes A Solar Bear:

The Orlando Solar Bears agreed to terms with G Bryce Merriam immediately preceding Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Cyclones.

Merriam (6'3", 200 lbs.) comes to Orlando after a four year career with Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (R.P.I.) in the NCAA ranks. During his career with R.P.I., Merriam appeared in 56 games with a 2.59 GAA and .903 save percentage. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native played in 31 games during his junior season with a 2.36 GAA and .908 save percentage. He was signed in time to dress for Sunday's game.

Everblades Notes:

The Everblades need to win all four of their remaining games and see the Gwinnett Gladiators lose their final two contests in order to take over first place in the South Division. They are currently two points behind the Elmira Jackals for fourth in the Eastern Conference with one game in hand... LW Mathieu Roy leads the league in points with 77. His 33 goals ranks him fourth in that category... F Corey Trivino is fourth among rookies with six game winning goals and is tied for 10th among rookies with 44 points... D Brent Henley leads all defensemen with 194 PIM and is third with 46 minor penalties... D Tyson Gimblett is fourth among blueliners with 166 PIM and 14 major penalties... D Olivier Dame-Malka is third among defensemen with 49 minor penalties... Florida is 3rd on the power play at 21.2 percent (61-for-288) and 16th on the penalty kill at 81.2 percent (216-for-266)... LW Mathieu Roy leads the team in goals (33) and points (77). He is tied with F Matthew Pistilli in assists (44).

Get Tickets:

The Solar Bears close out the 2012-13 home schedule with back-to-back games against the Florida Everblades tonight and tomorrow, Wednesday, March 27, both at 7:00 p.m. Good seats still available, visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com.

The Orlando Solar Bears, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and AHL's Houston Aeros, play all of their home games at the 2012 Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year, the Amway Center.

Individual tickets for all regular season home games are on sale beginning as low as $15. To purchase your tickets, please visit www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com or the Amway Center Box Office.

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 26, 2013


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