ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Kalamazoo Wings - February 28

March 1, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


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

(32-16-1-2, 67pts, 2nd, Eastern Conference) vs.

South Carolina Stingrays (Boston Bruins)

(30-17-2-3, 65pts, 3rd, Eastern Conference)

Where: Amway Center - Orlando, FL

When: 7:30 p.m.

Listen Live: iHeartSolarBears.com, 740thegame.com, iheart.com/live/601/ - Pregame starts at 7:15 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 bring their 10 game winning streak back to home ice as they face the Kalamazoo Wings tonight, Saturday, and Monday. Orlando completed a four-game road trip on Tuesday in South Carolina, taking their second straight win in overtime by a 3-2 score. Orlando fell behind early in the first period on a one-timer from the low slot, but tied the game up with a power play goal from F Taylor Matson midway through the frame. With less than a minute left in the first period, D Corey Fienhage put the Solar Bears ahead with a wrister from the blue line as Orlando took a 2-1 lead into the second period. Neither side was able to score in the middle frame, but a late-third period power play goal helped South Carolina tie the contest at 2-2 and force overtime. Just over one minute into the sudden death period, D Blake Kessel fired a wrist shot from the blue line and F Tyler Murovich deflected it into the cage to lift Orlando to the 3-2 win. Kalamazoo was last in action on Wednesday in Fort Wayne, downing the Komets by a 4-1 score. Forwards Chris Lawrence and Justin Taylor each scored for the Wings to help them out to a 2-0 lead just past the midway point of the second period. Fort Wayne pulled within one at 13:48 of the second stanza but with 1:11 left in the period, F Nick Sirota struck to give Kalamazoo a two goal cushion heading into the third. A late period empty net goal put the game on ice as Kalamazoo took the 4-1 win. Tonight is the second game between Orlando and Kalamazoo this year, with Orlando taking the first contest by a 4-3 overtime score last Sunday.

First Responders Weekend Starts Tonight:

The Solar Bears begin First Responders Weekend tonight for a 7:30 p.m. puck drop against Kalamazoo. Orlando will wear special First Responders Jerseys and there is a Toiletry Drive and Chuck-A-Puck at the game to benefit the Orlando Union Rescue Mission. First Responders Weekend continues tomorrow with the Game Worn First Responders Jersey Auction and chance for auction winners to take pictures with their player. Saturday's game also features a Solar Bears Key Chain Giveaway to the first 3,000 fans in attendance, courtesy of Auto Justice Attorney, Michael T. Gibson, P.A. The 2nd Annual Guns N' Hoses/Police vs. Fire Charity Hockey Game will take place at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday. If you have a ticket for the Solar Bears game you can use that ticket for complimentary admission to the Guns N' Hoses game.

Solar Bears Notes:

F Taylor Matson was named the Sher-Wood Hockey ECHL Player of the Week after he collected seven points on three goals and four assists in three games last week. It is the second straight week a Solar Bear has won the award as F Mickey Lang won the honor last week. Lang will be recognized prior to tonight's game... The Orlando Solar Bears have won 10 straight games for their longest winning streak in club history... G Cody Reichard has won eight straight starts for the longest winning streak by a Solar Bears goaltender dating back to last season... F Mickey Lang leads the ECHL with 31 goals and nine power play goals and is tied for fifth in the league with 53 points. He had his 10 game point streak (11 goals, 9 assists) snapped on Tuesday... F Taylor Matson is third among rookies with a 23.6 shooting percentage and fourth among rookies with a +17 rating... D Bryce Aneloski is fifth among rookies with a +16 rating... D Blake Kessel is tied for third among defensemen with 31 points... The Solar Bears are sixth in the league on the penalty kill at 85.6% (166-for-194)... F Mickey Lang leads the Solar Bears with 31 goals and 53 points... D Blake Kessel leads the team with 24 assists... F Ian Slater and D Eric Baier remain on the 21-day injured reserve... G John Curry was recalled the NHL with Minnesota Wild yesterday... F Mike Ullrich, F Josh Caron, and D Colton Jobke remain in the AHL with the Iowa Wild... G Garret Sparks 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.

Kory Nagy and Christopher Gibson Return to the Solar Bears:

The Orlando Solar Bears announced today that F Kory Nagy has been returned and G Christopher Gibson has been assigned by their American Hockey League Affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.

Nagy has played in 19 games for the Solar Bears this season, scoring four goals and adding five assists for nine points. He was loaned to Toronto at the beginning of February, and since that time has played in six games with the Marlies, earning two assists. Nagy has skated in 19 games for Toronto this season, scoring one goal to go along with six assists and a +4 rating.

Gibson returns to the Solar Bears where he has appeared in 18 games this season, posting a 7-8-1-1 record to go along with a 3.18 GAA and .887 save percentage. The rookie goaltender has skated in three contests with the Toronto Marlies, going 2-1-0 with a .946 save percentage and 1.68 GAA.

Wings Notes:

D Sam Ftorek is tied for second in the league with eight power play goals. He leads all defensemen with 28 assists and 39 points and is second among defensemen with 11 goals... F Justin Taylor is tied for third in the league with three shorthanded goals... G Jordan Binnington is third in the league with a .924 save percentage, seventh with a 2.29 GAA, and fourth with 18 wins... F Matt Caria is second among rookies with 18 goals and eighth among rookies with 38 points... D Sam Ftorek leads Kalamazoo with 28 assists and 39 points... F Matt Caria leads Kalamazoo with 18 goals... Kalamazoo is 7th on the power play at 17.2% (35-for-203) and 10th on the penalty kill at 84.8% (196-for-231).

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics



ECHL Stories from March 1, 2014


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