Solar Bears Stifled in 2-1 Loss to Stingrays

April 1, 2016

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Orlando Solar Bears (31-27-3-5), proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, gave up an early lead and fell short in their comeback attempt against the South Carolina Stingrays (41-18-6-3) in front of 4,233 on Friday night at the North Charleston Coliseum.

The Stingrays took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Paul Rodrigues flipped a behind-the-back backhand pass to Derek DeBlois for a one-timer at the left circle that beat Rob Madore blocker side at 9:21.

The Solar Bears had a chance to equalize in the second period when Brady Vail had a shorthanded breakaway midway through the frame, but the forward missed on his shot on Mark Dekanich.

Orlando found the tying score in the third period shortly after a penalty to South Carolina’s David Pacan expired when Rylan Schwartz flew down the right wing and snapped a shot from the right circle past Dekanich at 6:44.

The Stingrays took the lead again when Patrick Gaul split the Orlando defense and fired a shot past Madore at 11:42.

Although the Solar Bears attempted to tie the score late in the game with Madore pulled, they couldn’t solve Dekanich.

Madore took the loss with 23 saves on 25 shots against; Dekanich picked up the victory with 30 stops on 31 shots against.

NOTES:

With the loss the Solar Bears (71 points) remain in 10th place in the Eastern Conference. With Kalamazoo’s win tonight over Greenville, the Solar Bears are now four points back of ninth place with one game in hand on the Wings (75 points) and five points back of Wheeling (76 points) for eighth place with one game in hand on the Nailers.