Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Gladiators - Feb. 24, 2017

Solar Bears Game 55 • Home Game 29 • ECHL Game 719

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (27-18-6-3) vs. Atlanta Gladiators (20-25-6-1)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Friday, Feb. 24, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Listen on MixlrTICKETS: Click herePROMOTION: Country Music Night – The Solar Bears will be playing all of your favorite country hits throughout the game with our friends from 103.1 FM The Wolf! To purchase club seat tickets for just $10, visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com/THEWOLF.

TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears play their second of three games in six nights against the Atlanta Gladiators. After winning their first home game against Atlanta this season on Wednesday, Orlando has improved to 15-6-1-1 lifetime against the Gladiators at ARS.com Rink at Amway Center. Orlando is also in the midst of its largest run of success against the Gladiators in franchise history, having won five consecutive matches against Atlanta dating back to Nov. 5, 2016. The Solar Bears enter tonight’s game with a 6-0-1-1 streak on home ice.

MILLER CHIPS IN ASSIST IN 100TH PRO GAME:After a one-game stint with the Toronto Marlies, Brenden Miller returned to the Solar Bears lineup on Wednesday and tallied an assist on Darik Angeli’s shorthanded goal in the second period. The game was Miller’s 100th career pro game, and the second-year defenseman is enjoying a breakout season and is slated to dress in his 100th career game with Orlando tonight. Miller will be only the third defenseman in franchise history to skate in 100 games, joining Eric Baier (218) and Bryce Aneloski (117).

FAILLE’S RETURN PROVIDES IMMEDIATE DIVIDENDS:After his reassignment to the Solar Bears earlier this week, Eric Faille returned to the lineup for Orlando and didn’t miss a beat, setting up Joe Perry in the first period, and finding the back of the net in the third period on his own. For Faille, it was the 13th multi-point effort of the season – the Solar Bears are now 11-0-1-1 (.923 win percentage) when Faille records two or more points in a game.

PERRY CAN TAKE SOLE POSSESSION OF FRANCHISE SINGLE-SEASON GOAL RECORD:Joe Perry is now tied with Mickey Lang for the franchise record for goals scored in a single season with 27. The third-year pro now has also set a new career-high after netting the game-winning tally in Wednesday’s win over Atlanta.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 5-2-0-0Home: 1-2-0-0Away: 4-0-0-02015-16 Overall: 3-1-1-12015-16 Home: 2-1-0-02015-16 Away: 1-0-1-1Last 5 Years: 25-16-4-4Last 5 Years Home: 15-6-1-1Last 5 Years Away: 10-10-3-3

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Faille – 44Goals: Perry – 27Assists: Manderson – 31+/-: Gacek – +17PIM: Miller – 66SOG: Perry – 155

BEAR TRACKER

• Baier: Two points from 100 career Solar Bears points (32g-66a)
• Faille: One assist for 100 career pro assists
• Miller: One game for 100 in career with Solar Bears
• Perry: One goal needed to set new single-season franchise record (currently tied with Mickey Lang at 27)

STREAKS

• Angeli: 3-game point streak (2g-3a)
• Gacek: 5-game point streak (2g-4a)
• Faille: 2-game point streak (2g-2a)
• Massa: 2-game win streak (2-0-0)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies are in Binghamton tonight to face the Senators for a North Division clash at 7:05 p.m. at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena, while the Toronto Maple Leafs picked up a point in a 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Rangers at home last night and are back in action on Saturday when they host the Montreal Canadiens.

APP:The Solar Bears mobile app, presented by BB&T, gives 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 app is FREE and available for both iOS and Android devices.

NEXT HOME GAMES:

• Solar Bears vs. Atlanta Gladiators - Sunday, Feb. 26 - 1:30 p.m. – FAIRWINDS Solar Bears Sunday
• Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits – Thursday, March 2 – 7 p.m. – Thirsty Thursday – Fans can enjoy $5 domestic draft beers throughout the Amway Center. Fans can also take advantage of $2 Coors Light drafts before and after Thursday’s game, along with food specials at Ferg’s Depot on Church Street. Fans can purchase discounted game tickets for as low as $14 at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/fergs.
• Solar Bears vs. Greenville Swamp Rabbits – Saturday, March 4 - 7 p.m. – Noche Latina presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson, P.A.

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.