ORLANDO, FLA – When teams are going in opposite directions, one can almost predict the outcome favoring the squad that is going well. Sometimes, however, the team that is struggling finds a way to dig itself out and win.
That was the case Saturday night at the Amway Center in Orlando when the Wheeling Nailers (16-14-1-0), led by a hat trick from Jared Cockrell, defeated the Orlando Solar Bears (18-13-1-0) 4-1 in front of an announced crowd of 5,679. Hunter Fejes scored the lone goal for the Solar Bears on a power play late in the opening period and goalie Brad Barone made 24 saves in the loss that ended the team’s five-game win streak.
The visiting Nailers used a quick strike approach to take control of the contest. Just 2:39 into the first period, Wheeling moved the puck into the Solar Bears defensive zone with Tyler Drevitch collecting a pass from Nick Mangone. As two Orlando defenders closed in, Drevitch saw Felix Pare all alone in the center of the ice and fed the puck to him. Pare skated in and outwaited Barone before putting a backhander over the prone netminder for his fifth tally of the season.
Wheeling doubled its lead before the midpoint of the frame. The sequence started with a shot from the point by Dominic Dockery that Barone fended off. The rebound caromed off to Barone’s right where Bobby Hampton scooped a fallaway backhand shot at the cage. Hampton’s try hit the post and flopped into the crease where Cockrell beat a defender and shoved it into the net for his first of the night and seventh of the season.
Needing a spark, Orlando’s Dylan Fitze – who was Friday’s hero with a hat trick – got into a scrap with the Nailers’ Drevitch. The two combatants each landed a few shots before Fitze was able to get Drevitch off-balance and onto the ice.
The Solar Bears finally dented Wheeling goalie Stefanos Lekkas for a score late in the period. Playing on a power play, Tristin Langan had the puck at the top of the faceoff circle to Lekkas’ left. He hed a cross-ice pass to Odeen Tufto who fired a higi rising shot at the net. Lekkas made the stop but the rebound dropped, hitting Fejes who was standing at the top of the crease. Fejes got control and after a swing or two finally put the puck in for his sixth of the season with 43 seconds left, making it a 2-1 game after one.
The middle frame was dominated by penalties as the teams each had two man advantage opportunities. The Nailers were able to convert on their second chance thanks to another Orlando miscue. Defenseman Dmitry Semykin was looking to headman the puck to a teammate in the neutral zone. His pass never made it, instead hitting Cockrell. Cockrell moved it to Brandon Saigeon while he headed to open space in the slot. Saigeon quickly slid the puck down the slot to Cockrell who redirected it past Barone for his eighth tally and second in the contest to make it a 3-1 lead for the visitors after two.
More penalties disrupted play in the final frame as the number of power play chances climbed. The Solar Bears had the majority of the opportunities (the finished the contest 1-for-7) but had zero luck closing the deficit against Lekkas (24 saves). Cockrell completed his hat trick in the final minute, chasing down a clearout by Chris Ortiz in the Orlando end and sliding the puck into an empty net with 26 ticks remaining.
With the weekend set tied at one win each, the Solar Bears and Nailers will play the rubber game Sunday afternoon at the Amway Center starting at 3 p.m.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
Follow us on Twitter @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.