Game Recap: Jubilation for Solar Bears in 5-2 Triumph Over Swamp Rabbits

February 6, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (18-19-2-4), proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, were buoyed by Ryan Massa’s 38 saves and a two-point night from Nicklas Lindberg as they defeated the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (22-19-6-0) by a 5-2 score in front of a crowd of 7,969 on Saturday night at the Amway Center.

The Solar Bears opened the scoring in the first period when T.J. Foster made his way down the left side of the attacking zone and cut wide of a Greenville skater before snapping the puck through the five-hole of Mackenzie Skapski at 10:59.

Orlando doubled its lead when Lindberg received a pass from Eric Faille in the high slot and used a screen set up by Brady Vail to fire a low wrist shot to the glove side of Skapski at 19:47.

The Swamp Rabbits responded with a goal of their own in the second period when Vinny Saponari knocked home a loose puck past the blocker of Massa during a goalmouth scramble on a Greenville power-play at 9:36.

Jack Rodewald made it 3-1 at 7:53 off a feed from Lindberg, but Josh Nicholls pulled the Swamp Rabbits back to within one when he jarred a puck that was trapped underneath Massa’s pads into the net for a shorthanded marker at 11:51.

The Solar Bears received another power play opportunity further along in the frame, and Matt Rupert converted by backhanding a shot over the glove of Skapski to make it 4-2.

After a penalty was assessed to Rory Rawlyk for tripping at 14:46, the Swamp Rabbits spent most of the remaining moments in regulation with Mackenzie pulled for an extra attacker. After Orlando killed the penalty to Rawlyk, Vail potted the empty-net goal to seal the victory for the Solar Bears.

Massa picked up the win by matching his season-high of 38 saves on 40 shots against; Skapski took the loss with 26 stops on 30 shots against.