ESTERO, FLA – With the exception of two big nights, the Orlando Solar Bears have been offensively challenged early in this 2019-20 ECHL season. One of those games – a four goal outing – came against the Florida Everblades. After losing a tough contest to Florida on Wednesday, the Solar Bears were hoping for a big night of scoring on Friday in the Everblades building.
Unfortunately, they once again found their offense stuck in neutral.
Despite yet another strong performance in net by goalie Clint Windsor, Orlando (3-5-1-1) fell to the host Everblades (7-3-0-0) by a final of 2-1 in overtime in front of an announced crowd of 7,181 at Hertz Arena. Blake Winiecki played the part of hero for Florida, converting a rebound with 48 seconds left in the extra period for the Everblades’ third consecutive one-goal victory over their in-state rivals.
With time winding down in the overtime that was dominated by the home team, John McCarron blasted a shot from the point that clanged off the crossbar behind Windsor. The puck dropped into the crease where Winiecki beat the Solar Bears netminder to it, pushing it over the goal line for the win.
Windsor, who was brought in by Orlando Head Coach and General Manager Drake Berehowsky to fill in for both Spencer Martin and Zach Fucale who were called up to AHL Syracuse, again played well enough to win. He made 39 saves on Friday night, his third consecutive 30-plus stop game in as many starts. In three games this week, Windsor posted a 1.95 goals against average and a save percentage of .946 but only had a 1-1-1-0 record to show for it.
What may be of more concern to Berehowsky and assistant coach Jared Staal might be the offense. In the three games during the week, Orlando scored a grand total of five goals, putting pressure on Windsor to continue to play well. In ten games to date this season, the Solar Bears have netted 24 goals for an average offensive output of 2.4 goals per game.
In a reprise of Wednesday night, the first period was a defensive struggle as Windsor and his counterpart, Ken Appleby, were both perfect in turning away shots. Windsor’s best effort of the opening frame was a stop on Jack Nevins at the end of a two-on-one rush. Appleby shined brightest in the stanza when he took a goal away from Orlando’s Mikhail Shalagin. In all, Windsor stopped 11 while Appleby denied 7 as the first twenty minutes went into the books scoreless.
The scoreless tie did not last very long as Orlando opened the scoring before many of the fans had settled into their seats for the middle frame. Just 14 seconds into the second, Solar Bears forward Tyler Bird put a shot on net that Appleby slowed down. A scrum occurred in the crease where Tristin Langan was able to shovel the puck past the goalie. After a video review,the goal was ruled good, giving Langan his first professional tally.
Not too long after, the Solar Bears went on a four minute power play but Windsor had to bail his teammates out when he robbed the Everblades’ Hunter Garlant on a shorthanded odd-man rush. Orlando was not able to capitalize on the double minor nor a subsequent Florida penalty, keeping the score at 1-0.
As the third period started, Berehowsky and his team found themselves in the same position they faced on Wednesday – up by one with twenty minutes sitting between them and a win. The Everblades remembered the situation from two days prior well and were determined to repeat the result. Florida came out putting pressure on the Solar Bears, forcing Windsor to be on the toes of his skates at every moment. Florida logged six of the first seven shots in the final frame’s initial 6:18 of play.
The home team kept working hard and the effort paid off with the game-tying score at the 9:05 mark of the period. At the end of an extended period of cycling the puck, Zach Magwood gave the puck to Michael Huntebrinker along the boards. He made the decision to head behind the Orlando net and caught Windsor with a quick wraparound for his fifth goal of the season.
Huntebrinker’s tally proved to be the only score of the third as Windsor stopped five more Florida shots down the stretch to bring his regulation total to 33 saves. Appleby had very little to do in the frame, facing and stopping all three Orlando shots, all of which came in the first seven minutes of play.
In the overtime, Orlando’s Cody Donaghey tested Appleby with a shot 1:25 into the seven minute period. It was the only shot the Solar Bears would register as Florida took control from there. The Everblades pounded Windsor over the next six minutes of play before John McCarron’s iron-ringing drive and Winiecki’s rebound effort kept the contest from going to a shootout.
Appleby finished the night with 21 saves to pick up his fifth win of the season.
Notes: Final shots were 41-22 in favor of Florida… The Solar Bears went 0-for-5 on the power play while the Everblades finished 0-for-4… Orlando now has held its opposition scoreless on the power play in seven consecutive games, a string of 25 times short. Friday’s effort brought the Solar Bears penalty killing success rate to a league leading 90.5 percent… Orlando forward Jake Marchment played in his 200th professional game… Florida’s forward line of Winiecki, John McCarron and Justin Auger combined for 21 of the Everblades 41 shots on net in the game… The two teams will get together for game three of their four game mini-series Wednesday night in Estero at 7:30 p.m. Until then, Orlando will be off while Florida hosts Jacksonville Saturday night at Hertz Arena at 7 p.m.
Contact the author at don.money@prohockeynews.com
Follow the author on Twitter @phnsingleaedit or @prohockeynews
You must be logged in to post a comment.