Game Recap: Solar Bears Set Attendance Record in 6-3 Win Over Thunder

March 19, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (29-24-3-5), proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, set a new single-game attendance record at the Amway Center with 11,075 present for the team’s 6-3 win over the Adirondack Thunder (35-22-2-4) on Saturday night. The new mark surpassed the previous figure of 9,555, set on Oct. 20, 2012.

The Solar Bears opened the scoring in a frenetic first period when Jack Rodewald wristed the puck on the Adirondack goal off an Orlando faceoff win, and Brian Christie redirected the puck past Drew Fielding at 2:47 for his first professional goal.

The Solar Bears increased their lead when Rylan Schwartz drove the puck in on Fielding from the left side after gaining the offensive zone. The goaltender denied the initial attempt, but Schwartz collected his own rebound and wrapped it around the cage and inside the far post at 8:43.

Orlando continued its strong play in the second period when Rodewald hit Eric Baier for a pass in the slot moments after the Solar Bears captain exited the penalty box, and the defenseman and beat Fielding at 0:38.

Erik Bradford widened the lead at 16:26 after Austin Block knocked the puck into the slot and Bradford lifted the puck above the blocker of Fielding.

The Thunder finally solved Ryan Massa when Mathieu Brodeur blasted a shot through traffic from the right point at 19:41.

Adirondack continued its brief scoring run in the early stages of the third period when Terrence Walin spun to his forehand at the right circle and slid the puck towards the Orlando net, eventually squeaking a shot through Massa’s pads at 2:14.

T.J. Foster became the fifth scorer for the Solar Bears on the night when he retrieved a loose puck in Massa’s crease and raced up the ice with Denver Manderson for a 2-on-1 situation with only Brodeur between the pair and Fielding, finishing the play by tapping in a give-and-go pass from Manderson at 3:03.

Foster struck again by driving to the net and redirecting a shot from the left circle by Chris Bradley at 9:34; the assist to Bradley was the rookie blueliner’s first pro point.

Adirondack eventually replaced Fielding with Mavric Parks, and the goalie turned aside the remaining four shots on goal from Orlando in 9:12 of relief, while James Henry tallied a late shorthanded goal for the visitors at 17:07.

Massa earned the win with 36 saves on 39 shots against; Fielding took the loss with 20 stops on 26 shots against in 50:37 of action.

NOTES:

• With the win Orlando (66 points) remains in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, but pulled to within one point behind Atlanta (67 points) for ninth place with two games in hand.
• Bradford’s goal extended his point streak to six games (2g-4a).
• Rodewald’s two assists extends his point streak to four games (3g-4a).
• Block’s assist on Bradford’s goal extends his point streak to three games (1g-2a).