ESTERO, FLA – The Orlando Solar Bears knew coming in that their in-state rivals, the Florida Everblades, would be a tough first round playoff opponent. Just how difficult would depend on whether or not the Solar Bears could keep the Everblades offense in check while going on a scoring binge of their own.
Saturday night, Orlando accomplished neither objective as Mitch Wahl scored two goals and added an assist while Allen York stopped 18 of 19 shots as Florida thumped the Solar Bears 5-1 at the Germain Arena. The Everblades now lead the best-of-seven series two games to none while Orlando tries to figure out how to get back into the series when the teams come back to the City Beautiful this week.
Five different Everblades picked up two or more points and eleven of the skaters had a plus rating in the contest. Those numbers were a stark contrast to Orlando’s which saw just two players break even or attain a plus rating in the game.
With Friday’s tilt in the rearview mirror, the overall intensity on Saturday was up a few notches. That was evident when Orlando’s Spencer McAvoy objected to a hard hit from Florida’s Mike Aviani and the two dropped the gloves.
Orlando did score the first goal of the game 11:06 into the opening period. Jake Cepis was able to feed the puck to Brett Findlay who had found a soft spot inside the Florida defense. Findlay’s first shot hit the post but he stayed with it and put the rebound in.
Two minutes later, the Solar Bears were handed a golden opportunity to take control when Everblades captain Jordan Henry hit Johnny McInnis up high with an elbow and drew blood. Henry was given a five minute major penalty and a game misconduct but Orlando failed to take advantage, recording just three shots on York during the extended power play.
The penalty kill energized the Everblades and it paid off just twenty seconds after they returned to full strength. Adam Brace clanked a shot off the post behind Orlando goalie Garret Sparks and rebounded out just beyond the netminder’s reach. Corey Trivino was in the right place to collect it and flip a backhander into the top corner to tie the score. Less than a minute later, defenseman Mike Little caused an Orlando offensive zone turnover. That led to Wahl and Steven Whitney jumping into an odd-man rush that Whal converted into a goal at 19:21 to put Florida in front for good.
The Everblades broke the game open in the second with yet another pair of goals just 1:14 apart. The first came at the 11:36 mark when Aviani set up Whitney for a quick shot that got just inside the left post. Wahl then netted his second of the night, getting loose for a breakaway after another Solar Bears offensive zone miscue and scoring at 12:50.
Sensing a need for a jump start, Orlando head coach Vince Williams pulled Sparks (11 saves) in favor of backup Max Clermont. Seconds later, York denied Patrick Watling on a point blank chance – one of just four saves he had to make in the middle frame.
Clermont went on to stop all ten shots he faced after entering the game but York was just too tough for the Solar Bears to beat. Orlando’s offense did get ten shots in the third, which eclipsed its total for the first two periods, but the Everblades netminder was equal to every puck sent his way. Brace closed out the win with an empty net tally late in the period.
Neither team took advantage of special teams play as Orlando went 0-for-4 on the power play while Florida went 0-for-3.
The Solar Bears now face a near must-win situation in game three on Tuesday at home. A year ago, Orlando faced an even worse situation, going down three games to none to Cincinnati with two games still to go on the road. The Solar Bears manned up and forced the series back to Central Florida with two victories. It will take that kind of effort if Orlando wants to keep its season going.
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