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ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Orlando Wins Wild Contest 6-5 over Utah

January 3, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Orlando, FL - A wild contest at the Amway Center saw an empty net goal from F Taylor Matson stand as the game-winner as the Solar Bears took at 6-5 victory over the Utah Grizzles on Friday night. F Mike Ullrich tallied three points on two goals and an assist in the win.

A high scoring first period was jumped started by the Solar Bears 1:30 into the contest. Ullrich took the puck to the front of the net and F Mickey Lang jumped on [image: Mike Ullrich] the rebound after a toe save from G Aaron Dell to give the Solar Bears the 1-0 lead. D Cody Wild increased the lead to 2-0 at 13:33 when he teed up a one-timer on a pass from F Michael Catenacci, ringing the shot off the goalpost and into the net. Utah answered back to cut the lead to one when F Phil Mangan ricocheted a shot off a few bodies in front of G Christopher Gibson and inside the left post, but just 31 seconds later Lang forced Dell into a turnover behind his own net and Ullrich banged the loose puck home to give Orlando a 3-1 lead heading into the second frame.

Another quick goal, this time in the second period, helped Orlando extend their lead to 4-1. Lang knocked a puck out of midair and played it to himself off the right wall as he entered the attacking zone. He then fired a pass to F Tyler Murovich who slipped a backhand shot over the line at 1:02 of the second. Utah came storming right back with a goal from forward D.J. Jelitto at 8:21 before F Mathieu Aubin brought the Grizzlies to within one when he flipped a rebound over Gibson at 14:21. F Danick Paquette tied the contest at 4-4 when he blasted a slap shot into the top right corner of the net for a shorthanded goal with just under three seconds left in the period.

Ullrich struck for his second goal of the game to put the Solar Bears back on top in the third period. F Jacob Cepis dropped a puck to Ullrich who fired a shot on net. D Zachary Yuen corralled the rebound and Ullrich finished the play with a backhander under the bar at 5:22. Matson added his second goal of the year on an empty-netter with 17 seconds left, but Utah F David Vallorani took the puck to the net right off the draw and knocked home a backhand goal six seconds later to bring the score to 6-5. Vallorani had another quick chance off the ensuing faceoff, but the Solar Bears recovered to hold on to the 6-5 win over Utah.

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