Game Recap: McInnis Paces Solar Bears to 3-2 Win Over Fuel

February 18, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (23-20-2-4), proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, started strong and never looked back as the team posted a season-high 47 shots on goal en route to a 3-2 win over the Indy Fuel (25-26-2-0) in front of 4,483 on Thursday night at the Amway Center.

After scoring twice in Wednesday’s loss to the Fuel, Brady Vail picked up where he left off, snapping the puck past Shane Owen in the slot at 11:28.

Austin Block bagged his first goal with the Solar Bears on a give-and-go play with Patrick Watling that ended with Block burying the puck into an exposed net at 18:07. Watling’s assist extended his point streak to eight games (3g-7a) dating back to Oct. 17.

The Fuel cut Orlando’s lead in half in the second period when Cody Sharib sent a pass towards the middle for Alex Lavoie, who hammered it past Rob Madore at 17:24.

Orlando gained some breathing room in the third period when Johnny McInnis stole the puck at the defensive blueline immediately following a faceoff to begin a penalty kill and raced down the ice before wristing the puck above the glove of Owen at 11:49.

Indy got another goal from Cody Sharib after he blasted the puck from the left circle off the rush at 16:47, but the Solar Bears hung on for the victory.

Madore earned the win with a 43 save effort on 45 shots against; Owen took the loss with 44 stops on 47 shots against.

NOTES:

• With the victory – and with the Wheeling Nailers idle – Orlando moved up to 10th place in the Eastern Conference.
• Orlando’s 10 shorthanded goals are tied with Fort Wayne and Utah for the most in the league; the Solar Bears lead the Eastern Conference in that category.
• The Solar Bears will hold their annual First Responders Night and Guns n’ Hoses game on Saturday, Feb. 20. The Guns n’ Hoses game will begin at 2:00 p.m. and the Solar Bears host the Indy Fuel at 7:00 p.m. Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson, P.A. is the presenting sponsor of both events.