ECHL Orlando Solar Bears

Solar Bears Complete Dramatic Comeback in 5-4 OT Victory

February 15, 2014 - ECHL (ECHL)
Orlando Solar Bears News Release


Orlando, FL - With time winding down in the third period, F Mickey Lang blasted a one-timer into the net to propel the Solar Bears into overtime, and then struck again in the sudden death period as Orlando came back to take a 5-4 overtime victory over the Gwinnett Gladiators in front of 8,758 fans at the Amway Center on Saturday night.

An early first period goal helped the Gladiators jump out to a 1-0 lead. F Marshall Everson tipped a shot from the blue line and then collected the loose puck and slid it past G Cody Reichard for a power play goal at 2:37 of the first. Orlando answered back late in the period during 4-on-4 action as F Tyler Murovich skated the puck into the attacking zone and lifted a pass to F Taylor Matson who one-timed it into the back of the net to send the game tied at 1-1 into the first intermission.

Gwinnett restored their advantage halfway through the second period when F Evan Bloodoff collected his own rebound and slipped a shot just over the line. They then extended their lead to 3-1 over the Solar Bears as Everson collected his second goal of the game on a rebound off the pads of Reichard at 11:53. D Cody Wild put Orlando back to within one just over two minutes later when he knocked a puck out of mid-air and over the line after a shot from F Scott Tanski ricocheted off the glass behind the net. Before the end of the period, the Solar Bears found the equalizer. Matson knocked in his second goal of the night, this time on a power play, when he took a pass in the slot, avoided a poke check, and blasted a shot past G Scott Stajcer.

For the third time in the game, the Gladiators took a lead, this time with 10:11 left in the contest. F Joey Haddad gathered up a loose puck in the right corner and slipped a pass to F Dirk Southern. With plenty of time to pick his spot, Southern found the top right corner of the net as the Gwinnett went up 4-3. Shortly afterward, Reichard made a game-saving stop when he dove across the goal mouth and snagged a puck out of mid-air with a highlight reel save to keep the Solar Bears hopes alive. As time was winding down in the third and with the goaltender pulled, Lang took a pass from Matson in the left circle and ripped a one-time shot inside the left post with 9.8 seconds left, forcing overtime with a 4-4 score.

A power play in overtime helped boost the Solar Bears to the victory. Once again, Lang had a chance to dial up a shot from the top of the left circle and whipped a shot just inside the post to boost the Solar Bears to a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Gwinnett Gladiators.

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ECHL Stories from February 15, 2014


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