Point streak halted as Solar Bears fall to Eagles, 5-2

Miller, Baier score for Orlando

LOVELAND, Colo. – The Orlando Solar Bears (18-11-4-2) saw their four-game point streak come to an end as they fell to the Colorado Eagles (20-10-1-3) by a 5-2 score on Saturday night at the Budweiser Events Center.

Click here for the box score.

The Eagles took an early first period lead when Matt Garbowsky won a face-off at the left circle back to the point and then redirected a Mason Geertsen shot past Kasimir Kaskisuo just 35 seconds into the game.

Colorado expanded its lead with a power-play goal after Shawn St-Amant collected a Matt Register rebound and beat Kaskisuo upstairs at 6:11.

The Eagles nearly pulled ahead at 2:05 of the second period when Jesse Mychan redirected the puck into the Orlando net, but Mychan made contact with the puck above the crossbar, nullifying the goal.

After Colorado’s Darryl Bootland was tossed from the game for kneeing Patrick Watling at 3:53, the Solar Bears went to work on the power play, as Brenden Miller wristed a shot over the blocker-side shoulder of Kent Simpson at the four-minute mark to get Orlando on the board. The tally brought Miller’s goal streak to five consecutive games, tying Ryan Cruthers for the franchise mark.

Mychan buried a Casey Pierro-Zabotel feed past Kaskisuo’s blocker at 13:35 to put the Solar Bears in another two-goal deficit.

Garbowsky tallied his second of the contest one minute into the third period when he found some space at the left circle and slapped the puck into the net to make it 4-1.

Eric Baier closed the gap at 4:36 when he picked up a loose puck in the slot on the rush and wristed it past Simpson.

Orlando pulled Kaskisuo late in the third, but Garbowsky sealed the game with an empty-net goal to complete the hat trick at 18:46.

Kaskisuo took the loss with 23 saves on 27 shots against; Simpson picked up the victory with 34 stops on 36 shots against.

Three Stars:1) Matt Garbowsky – COL2) Casey Pierro-Zabotel – COL3) Matt Register – COL

NEXT HOME GAMES:

• Military Appreciation Night & Patriotic Jersey – Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - Saturday, Jan. 21 - 7 p.m.
• Solar Bears vs. Allen Americans - Thursday, Jan. 26 - 7 p.m. – First-ever meeting between Orlando and the defending back-to-back Kelly Cup champions
• Solar Bears vs. Allen Americans - Sunday, Jan. 29 - 1:30 p.m. – UCF vs. UF game following Solar Bears game

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.

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.

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL’s Toronto Marlies, and play all of their home games at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

Follow the Solar Bears at www.OrlandoSolarBearsHockey.com, Facebook, and Twitter (@OrlandoHockey) for all the latest news and updates. Stay in touch with Shades on Instagram by following SolarBearsHockey.

Season tickets, Corporate Flex vouchers, and Group tickets are a great way to entertain employees, co-workers, clients, friends and family. For more information on all of the Solar Bears ticket packages, call (407) 951-8200 or visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com/groups.

Officially licensed Orlando Solar Bears replica team jerseys, apparel, and headwear can be purchased online at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/shop.