Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Mavericks - Nov. 21, 2016

Solar Bears Game 13 • Home Game 9 • ECHL Game 199

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (6-5-1-0) vs. Missouri Mavericks (5-7-0-1)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Monday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Vist our website to listen to the game via MixlrTICKETS: Click herePROMOTION:Food drive with United Against Poverty Orlando – Fans who bring non-perishable canned food items will be entered into a raffle to win four Gold Seats to a future Solar Bears regular season home game.

TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears take on the Missouri Mavericks for the first time in franchise history. Missouri joined the ECHL during the 2014-15 season along with six other expansion teams that formerly played in the Central Hockey League. After missing the playoffs in their first season in the ECHL, the Mavericks rebounded last season by leading the league in the regular season with a 52-15-3-2 record, when they were captained by current Solar Bears defenseman Trevor Ludwig.

BULK GAINS:With the additions of defensemen Taylor Doherty and Daniel Maggio and forward Mason Marchment, Orlando has gained some serious size on its roster. Collectively, the trio average 76.66 inches and 213.67 pounds. This lends itself even moreso to the physical style that head coach Drake Berehowsky seeks to implement, considering the 2012-13 Solar Bears averaged 73 inches and 194 pounds (source: Elite Prospects).

POWER PLAY REMAINS HOT:As a team that has scored at least one power-play goal in 10 of its first 12 games, the Solar Bears are naturally among the league’s elite on the man advantage. In fact, the Solar Bears are the only team that has three players in the ECHL’s top 20 power-play goal scorers: Joe Perry (5), Johnny McInnis (2) and Brett Findlay (2).

PK MAY BE SOURCE OF STRENGTH AGAINST MAVERICKS:While the Solar Bears have killed 63.6% of penalties successfully during this recent homestand, the Mavericks have one of the weaker power play units in the league, and are tied with Cincinnati and Allen for surrendering a league-high five shorthanded goals to opposing PK units this season.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 0-0-0-0Home: 0-0-0-0Road: 0-0-0-02015-16 Overall: 0-0-0-02015-16 Home: 0-0-0-02015-16 Away: 0-0-0-0Last 5 Years: 0-0-0-0Last 5 Years Home: 0-0-0-0Last 5 Years Away: 0-0-0-0

LEADERSPoints: Faille & Findlay – 12Goals: Perry – 5Assists: Faille & Findlay – 8+/-: Watling – +7PIM: Findlay – 14SOG: Faille – 53

BEAR TRACKER

• Findlay: Needs one goal to tie C.J. Severyn (33) for second in team history; three goals to tie Jacob Cepis and Brady Vail (35) for first
• Baier: Needs two goals to tie Mickey Lang (32) for fourth in team history

STREAKS

• Baier: 2-game point streak (1g-3a)
• Faille: 2-game point streak (1g-2a)
• Hohmann: 2-game point streak (1g-2a)
• Manderson: 6-game point streak (3g-6a
• Watling: 3-game assist streak (3a

AFFILIATE NOTES:Former Solar Bears goaltender Garret Sparks had a 19-save shutout to help the Toronto Marlies blank the St. John’s IceCaps on Sunday; the Marlies return to action on Tuesday when they visit the Albany Devils. The Toronto Maple Leafs host the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

NEW APP:The Solar Bears have released a brand-new mobile app, presented by BB&T, giving Solar Bears fans everything they need right in their pocket. The app is also home to the brand-new Loyalty & Rewards Program, which provides Solar Bears fans with opportunities to accumulate points and redeem them for exclusive prizes. The new app is FREE and available for both iOS and Android devices.

NEXT GAME:The Orlando Solar Bears face the Missouri Mavericks for the second time in as many nights on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

Single-game tickets are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com. Full and half-season ticket plans are now available by visiting OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com.