ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Reading Royals - February 28

February 28, 2013 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Who: Orlando (25-27-2-3, 55pts) vs.

Reading Royals (Washington Capitals) (35-16-3-3, 76pts)

Where: Amway Center - Orlando, FL

When: 7:00 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:

The Solar Bears continue their eight game homestand tonight as they kick of a three-game set (two home, one away) against the Reading Royals. The Solar Bears have not played since last Friday when they battled to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Gwinnett Gladiators. Orlando and Gwinnett went tied 2-2 into the third period, but C Mathew Sisca scored his second goal of the night on a power play early in the frame, and C Ryan Cruthers sealed the game with a shorthanded goal in the final three minutes to lift the Solar Bears to the 4-2 win. The Royals were in action yesterday, jumping out to a 2-0 lead over the Florida Everblades in the first period and not looking back as they skated to a 4-2 win over Florida. Reading saw three different players collect two points in the game, with forwards David Marshall and David Vallorani each finishing with one goal and one assist and F Yannick Tifu ended the game with two helpers. The Solar Bears have faced the Royals one time, falling by a 5-3 score at the Sovereign Center in Reading on December 15.

Solar Bears Notes:

C Ryan Cruthers scored his 20th goal of the season on Friday, becoming the first Solar Bear to reach that milestone... Orlando is 9-2-0-1 at home against non-division rivals... F Ryan Ginand returned from Houston on Sunday and is expected to play tonight. He last appeared with the Solar Bears in back-to-back games against the South Carolina Stingrays on February 15 and 16, earning two assists on February 16... Orlando has played 11 of their last 12 games at home, and have killed off 56 of the 63 penalties they have taken during that span (88.9%)... The Solar Bears will wear special Star Wars themed jerseys tonight.... D Jesse Dudas was placed on the 21-day IR earlier this week... G Mike Brodeur, D Josh Caron, F Dan Dries, D Sean Lorenz, and F Dale Mahovsky remain on the 21-day IR.

Royals Notes:

F Stanislav Galiev scored a hat trick the previous meeting against Orlando. He is currently tied for first among rookies with nine power play goals and is third among rookies with six game winning goals... F Yannick Tifu is 12th in the league with 55 points... F David Vallorani is tied for first among ECHL rookies with 31 assists and is fifth among rookies with 44 points... The Royals are currently without the services of the ECHL's two leading goal scorers among defensemen. D Adam Comrie (17 goals) and D Denny Urban (13 goals) are both currently with the Worcester Sharks of the AHL... Reading is 16th on the power play at 16.0 percent (42-for-262) and 12th on the penalty kill at 82.5 percent (198-for-240)... F Yannick Tifu leads the Royals in goals (19), assists (36) and points (55).

BE GREAT! Classic for Kids on Saturday:

The Solar Bears are holding the BE GREAT! Classic for Kids on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. immediately preceding their 7:00 p.m. game against the Reading Royals at Amway Center. Seven-time Stanley Cup Champion Bryan Trottier, Solar Bears Head Coach and former NHL player Drake Berehowksy, and former NHL players and Solar Bears Allan Bester and Bob Joyce will take part in the game. Autographed Trottier, Berehowsky, Bester and Joyce NHL jerseys will be auctioned off the night of the game to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central FL.

Check out the Orlando Solar Bears Statistics



ECHL Stories from February 28, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central