Game Recap: Solar Bears Cage Beast in 3-2 Win

March 10, 2016

BRAMPTON, Ontario – The Orlando Solar Bears (26-23-3-5), proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, scored three goals in the second period on their way to a 3-2 win over the Brampton Beast (16-30-7-4) in front of 2,217 on Thursday night at the Powerade Centre.

After a scoreless first period, both teams’ offenses came alive in the middle frame. The Solar Bears got things going when Matt Rupert banged home a rebound past the glove of Jordan Ruby at 8:04.

The Beast quickly countered when Jordan Henry chased after his own rebound that deflected off the pads of Ryan Massa back into the slot and Henry fired it past the Orlando goalie at 12:31 to draw his team level.

Brampton then gained its first lead of the night on the power play when David Ling set up Mike Hammond for a one-timer in the slot at 13:26.

T.J. Foster got the equalizer for the Solar Bears at 14:23 by snapping the puck underneath the blocker of Ruby at 14:23.

Foster then fed Patrick Watling for the eventual game-winning tally at 15:42.

Massa made another 11 stops in the third period, including a flurry of chances from Brampton’s Jonathan Parker in the dying moments of the game to preserve the win.

Massa picked up the win with 28 saves on 30 shots against; Ruby took the loss with 26 stops on 29 shots against.

NOTES:

• With Greenville’s loss and Kalamazoo idle, Orlando moved up to 10th place in the Eastern Conference with the victory. The Solar Bears (60 points) are only three points back of Wheeling for ninth place.
• Watling’s goal extended his overall point streak to seven games (2g-6a).