ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Miller the Hero as Solar Bears Down Stingrays 5-4 in OT

Published on April 2, 2016 under ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


NORTH CHARLESTON, SC - The Orlando Solar Bears (33-27-3-5), proud affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, came away with a 5-4 overtime victory over the South Carolina Stingrays (41-18-6-3) in front of 5,625 on Saturday night at the North Charleston Coliseum.

The Solar Bears got an early lead as Brady Vail made his way down the right side and fed a pass to Mark Louis in the high slot. As the defense collapsed around Vitek Vanecek, Louis fired a wrist shot that beat the goaltender low at 1:46. Vail's assist was the forward's 57th point of the season (20g-37a), setting the new Solar Bears single-season record for points, which was previously held by Jacob Cepis.

Minutes later Eric Faille received a pass from Patrick Watling and slammed the puck past Vanecek at 5:26.

Orlando continued its run during a 5-on-3 power play when Jack Rodewald knocked down a T.J. Foster rebound past Vanecek at 15:03.

The Stingrays got on the board when Joe Devin won a faceoff at the right circle back to Colton Saucerman, who one-timed a shot past Ryan Massa at 16:49.

The Solar Bears answered after Watling stole the puck from a Stingrays player as South Carolina attempted to exit its zone. Watling worked the puck along to Brett Findlay, who sent it back to a trailing Brenden Miller, and the rookie defenseman blasted the puck into the net at 18:10.

The Stingrays rebounded in the second period with two goals coming late in the frame from Austin Fyten at 15:50 and Caleb Herbert at 17:43.

Herbert tied the score when he received a long pass from Spencer Humphries and streaked into the Solar Bears zone and snuck a shot through the pads of Massa at 3:10 of the third period.

The game remained tied at 4-4 following the end of regulation, but Miller won the game for Orlando at 2:44 of the extra frame after one-timing a pass from Foster.

Massa picked up the win with 40 saves on 44 shots against; Vanecek took the overtime loss with 12 stops on 17 shots against.

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