ESTERO, FLA – Last week, Orlando Solar Bears goalie Brad Barone had himself a career week. He won three times and stopped 127 shots, earning himself runner-up honors for the ECHL goalie of the week. Wednesday night at Hertz Arena in Estero, Barone had yet another fantastic night.
There was just one problem: his teammates could not seal the deal for a win.
Blake Winiecki and Joe Pendenza scored six minutes apart in the third period to erase an Orlando lead as the Florida Everblades (7-3-1-0) pulled out a 3-2 victory over the Solar Bears (5-5-1-0) in front of an announced crowd of 3,839. Everblades captain John McCarron picked up a goal and an assist and goalie Cam Johnson made 27 saves to outduel Barone, who turned away a career high 50 of 53 Florida chances.
Aaron Luchuk and Michael Brodzinski (power play) put the Solar Bears into a lead in the second period but there was no other scoring to be had. Considering that the Everblades recorded 25 shots to Orlando’s 7 in the third period, the final score could have been worse had it not been for Barone.
Exactly one week before, Orlando had gone into Estero and beat Florida in a tight defensive battle. The Everblades thirst for revenge began a mere 17 seconds into the first period when captain John McCarron stepped into a slapshot that beat Barone under the crossbar. For McCarron, it was his seventh goal of the season.
That was the only real eventful moment of the opening frame as both Barone and Everblades netminder Cam Johnson were building brick walls in front of their nets. Barone stopped 13 or 14 Florida shots while Johnson turned away all eight Orlando attempts.
The Solar Bears pulled even 2:47 into the second when who else but Luchuk asserted himself. Luchuk forced a turnover in the Everblades end and took the puck away. He then proceeded to beat Johnson to his glove side for his ninth of the year to tie up the contest at 1-1.
In the closing minutes of the period, Florida’s Jordan Sambrook was whistled for cross-checking, giving Orlando what proved to be the only power play of the night. Less than a minute into the advantage, Steenn Pasichnuk set up Brodzinski for a shot from the high slot that went through for his third of the season.
Then came the third and final period. From the start, the Everblades played hard – they way the usually do when they get behind. It was all Barone could do to hold them back. Florida had a 5-1 shots advantage through the first 2:27 and it went from there.
The Solar Bears had their best flurry during a four-on-four situation, putting three shots on Johnson. Over the remaining 14 minutes of play, Orlando recorded just three shots on net.
A couple of ticks past the midpoint of the period, the Everblades leveled the score. McCarron put a shot on net that Barone stopped. The rebound squirted away toward the post where Winiecki put it across the goal line for his ninth of the year.
Florida continued to pour shots on Barone in hopes that it could find another crack in the Orlando netminder’s wall. At the 16:15 mark, Pendenza did just that, getting a pass from Levko Koper and from a bad angle scoring the game-winning goal. For Pendenza, it was his third of the season and came at a good time for the Everblades faithful.
The remaining 3:45 was a lesson in frustration for the visitors. The Everblades continued to attack, outshooting the Solar Bears 4-2 over that stretch. Even pulling Barone for an extra attacker failed to bring about a late tally, sending the visitors to their bus to head home without any points.
Both teams are off until Saturday when Orlando hosts the Maine Mariners while Florida hosts in-state rival Jacksonville.
Notes: Final shots were 53-29 in favor of Florida… The Everblades had no power play opportunities in the game while the Solar Bears went 1-for-1… Luchuk’s goal extended his points streak to eleven game. He has nine goals and 10 assists in that time… Brodzinski’s 33rd power play point, tying him with Eric Faille for most man advantage points in team history.
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