Game Recap: Solar Bears Bitten by Everblades in 3-1 Loss

April 5, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (32-28-4-5), proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, fell to the Florida Everblades (44-23-0-2) by a 3-1 score in front of 6,698 on Tuesday night at the Amway Center, allowing Orlando’s in-state rival to claim the inaugural Wawa Sunshine Cup Series by earning 16 standings points against Orlando’s six through the first 11 of 14 regular season meetings.

Both teams played through a scoreless first period, although Ryan Massa made a late breakaway save on Matt Willows, one of 14 stops required from the rookie netminder in the opening frame.

Orlando got the first lead of the night at 3:17 of the second period when Patrick Watling sent a pass from the right circle across the slot to Brett Findlay, who redirected the feed past Anthony Peters.

Florida answered moments later when Brendan O’Donnell snapped off a shot from the right dot that eluded Massa at 4:41.

In the third period the Everblades pulled ahead when Matt Marquardt’s blocked shot was recovered by Brant Harris, who wrapped it around the far post behind the net past Massa at 10:10.

Kevin Lynch eventually sealed the game for Florida with an unassisted empty-net goal at 18:59.

Massa took the loss with 31 saves on 33 shots against; Peters earned the win with 23 stops on 24 shots against.

NOTES:

With the loss the Solar Bears (73 points, three games remaining) remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Orlando is six points back of eighth-place Elmira (79 points, two games remaining) for the final spot in the 2016 Kelly Cup Playoffs and four points behind ninth-place Kalamazoo (77 points, three games remaining).