Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Everblades - Dec. 27, 2016

Solar Bears Game 30 • Home Game 16 • ECHL Game 384

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (17-9-3-0) vs. Florida Everblades (17-6-1-2)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Visit our website or download the new Solar Bears mobile app to listen to the game via MixlrTICKETS: Click herePROMOTION: Ticket Tuesday Presented by iRentEverything – Enter your information here before 5 p.m. today for a chance to win four (4) tickets to the Solar Bears game on Friday, December 30 against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits! Click here for Sweepstakes Official Rules & Conditions.TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears return from the holiday break with a Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game against the Florida Everblades. The Solar Bears have a chance to pad their lead atop the South Division with a victory tonight; a loss of any form by Orlando will allow the Everblades to jump back into first.

CRANE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO LINEUP:Brett Findlay’s recall to the Toronto Marlies over the weekend has opened up a spot at center in the lineup. Fortunately for the Solar Bears, Chris Crane has been activated from reserve, and is expected to fill the void left by Findlay’s departure between Denver Manderson and Joe Perry. Crane is producing at over a goal per game for Orlando since joining the team in a November trade with the Allen Americans, and has already scored three goals in two games against Florida.

NO SHORTAGE OF OFFENSE AGAINST ‘BLADES:Although the Everblades are one of the more stout defensive teams in the Eastern Conference, surrendering an average of only 3.00 goals against per game, that hasn’t stopped the Solar Bears from finding the back of the net against their South Division foe. In fact, Orlando’s average goals for against Florida (3.80) is slightly more than the team’s average for the entire season (3.79).

PERRY COMING OFF ANOTHER MULTI-GOAL PERFORMANCE:Joe Perry enters tonight’s game with four multi-goal games this season, which leads the Solar Bears. He has recorded three two-goal games (including last Thursday’s win over Florida) and registered the lone home ice hat trick this season for Orlando.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 2-3-0-0Home: 2-1-0-0Road: 0-2-0-02015-16 Overall: 4-10-0-02015-16 Home: 2-6-0-02015-16 Away: 2-4-0-0Last 5 Years: 26-35-2-1Last 5 Years Home: 13-17-1-0Last 5 Years Away: 13-18-1-1

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Manderson  – 32Goals: Perry – 15Assists: Manderson – 22+/-: Manderson – +18PIM: Miller – 39SOG: Faille – 113

BEAR TRACKER

• Crane: Two points from 100 career ECHL points (53g-45a)
• Manderson: Two points from 100 points with Orlando (32g-66a)

STREAKS

• Crane: 4-game point streak: (5g-1a)
• Perry: 2-game point streak (2g-1a)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies fell in a tight 2-1 affair yesterday to the St. John’s IceCaps at home in Brett Findlay’s season debut with Orlando’s AHL affiliate, and are back in action tomorrow at Binghamton. The Toronto Maple Leafs went into the holiday break with a 4-1 win at Arizona, and travel to Florida tomorrow to take on the Panthers.

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 HOME GAMES:

• Coors Light Countdown to New Year’s – Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Friday, Dec. 30 - 7 p.m.
• Coors Light Countdown to New Year’s – Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits - Saturday, Dec. 31 - 4 p.m.
• Solar Bears vs. Manchester Monarchs - Tuesday, Jan. 3 - 7 p.m. – Only 2016-17 regular season meeting against North Division-leading Manchester

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.