NORTH CHARLESTON, SC – Under normal circumstances, the Orlando Solar Bears and the South Carolina Stingrays have the capability to get into a old fashioned shootout that would make goalies cringe. Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum, the two South division rivals put on an old school defensive battle worthy of postseason play.
Rob Madore made 33 saves in his return to the Orlando lineup Friday night (File photo courtesy of F. Medina & G. Bassing/Orlando Solar Bears)
Joe Devin scored the only goal of the shootout in support of netminder Vitek Vanecek who made 21 saves as the Stingrays edged the Solar Bears 2-1 in front of an announced crowd of 2,926. Vanecek out-dueled Orlando goalie Rob Madore who stopped 33 shots in a losing effort.
The Solar Bears (5-3-1-1, 12 points) were looking to continue their winning ways following Thurdsay night’s win over Idaho but the host Stingrays (7-5-1-0, 15 points) had other ideas. With Orlando trying to work out the kinks after an overnight bus ride, South Carolina took advantage by rolling up numerous shots on Madore.
The Stingrays finally broke through for the game’s opening score midway through the first period. A defensive zone turnover by Orlando Brad Richard allowed Brett Cameron to get control of the puck. Cameron sent the puck out front to Patrick Gaul who followed his own shot to convert the rebound into his first goal of the season.
The visitors took more than fifteen minutes to find their offense, putting most of their four opening stanza shots on Vanecek in the final five minutes. Vanecek, a Washington Capitals prospect, held Orlando at bay as the teams headed into the intermission.
Early in the middle frame, Orlando’s Jack Rodewald and South Carolina’s Tyler Lewington dropped the gloves for a spirited battle. Neither team drew much inspiration from the fight as both goalies settled in for a classic one-on-one confrontation of wills. The Solar Bears finished the frame outshooting the Stingrays 8-7 but still trailed by one heading for the third period.
South Carolina came out of the locker room determined to keep Orlando from creating any momentum by pressing the visitors. Vanecek made a key stop on a Richard breakaway following a penalty, continuing the Solar Bears’ frustration.
Orlando finally found a way to light the goal light late in regulation. With 5:27 to go, Lindsay Sparks stole the puck in the Stingrays defensive zone. He immediately looked up and founf Eric Faille along with a clear path to the net. Sparks made a perfect pass and Faille one-timed a drive that beat Vanecek cleanly to tie the score. For Faille, it was his fourth goal of the season.
A late power play gave the Stingrays one more chance to win the contest but Madore, who had just returned from a callup to the AHL Toronto Marlies, scrambled to make two big saves. Madore’s work allowed the Solar Bears to take the game to overtime while earning at least one point for their effort.
In the extra period, South Carolina had the better of the play, pounding five shots on the Orlando net but Madore was equal to the task. The Solar Bears did not get a shot until the final minute when defenseman Eric Baier was stoned twice, once by Vanecek and once by the crossbar. The Stingrays Bobby Shea had one last opportunity in the last five seconds but Madore again made a big stop to extend the game to the shootout.
In the skills competition, Vanecek stopped Sparks and Denver Manderson on Orlando’s first two shots. Devin scored on the Stingrays’ first attempt but Andrew Rowe was stopped from ending the game in the second round by Madore’s glove hand. Needing a score to keep the game going, Faille tried to beat Vanecek with a backhander but the 19-year old netminder made the save to give his team the win.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday night in North Charleston. Puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.
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