Game Preview: Solar Bears at Beast - March 23, 2017

Solar Bears Game 64 • Away Game 30 • ECHL Game 862

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (31-23-6-3) at Brampton Beast (36-20-3-4)VENUE: Powerade Centre, Brampton, OntarioDATE: Thursday, March 23, 7:15 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Listen on Mixlr

TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears return to the Greater Toronto Area to battle the Brampton Beast, ECHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens. Orlando swept the Beast three games to none on home ice in November. Due to South Carolina’s win at Atlanta last night, Orlando sits tied with the Stingrays in points (71), but is edged in the ROW tiebreaker and sits in fifth in the South Division, while Brampton currently leads the North Division by one point.

MATCHUP FEATURES SNIPER DUEL:Both Orlando and Brampton possess players in the ECHL goal-scoring title race. Joe Perry sits eighth with a franchise-record 31 goals for the Solar Bears this season, while Brampton’s David Pacan is tied for second with 35. Pacan is also the only player in the top 10 with a shooting percentage of over 20 percent (21.2).

MANDERSON CAN PASS CEPIS FOR FRANCHISE ASSIST LEAD:By setting up Justin Buzzeo’s first with Orlando on Tuesday, Denver Manderson moved into a tie with Jacob Cepis for the most assists in franchise history with 77.

BUZZEO HAS HISTORY AGAINST BEAST:Now with his first goal for Orlando out of the way, Justin Buzzeo carries a two-game point streak into tonight’s meeting with Brampton. The forward tallied a career-high four points (3g-1a) and the lone hat trick of his pro career against the Beast while with Atlanta last February.

CAMERANESI CARRIES WINNING PEDIGREE INTO SERIES:Not only does rookie forward Tony Cameranesi lead Orlando in the regular season series against Brampton with six points (3g-3a) in three games, but he is responsible for providing two game-winning goals against the Beast during the three-game home set in November.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 3-0-0-0Home: 3-0-0-0Away: 0-0-0-02015-16 Overall: 3-0-0-02015-16 Home: 0-0-0-02015-16 Away: 3-0-0-0Last 5 Years: 6-0-0-0Last 5 Years Home: 3-0-0-0Last 5 Years Away: 3-0-0-0

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Buzzeo & Faille – 59Goals: Perry – 31Assists: Buzzeo – 41+/-: Danford – +20PIM: Miller – 76SOG: Perry – 185

BEAR TRACKER

• Baier: Three assists for 100 career pro assists
• Faille: Two points to set new franchise single-season record for points
• Manderson: One assist to pass Jacob Cepis (77) for franchise mark
• Miller: One point from 50 in career with Orlando
• Perry: Three assists from 50 in pro career

STREAKS

• Baier: 3-game assist streak (3a)
• Buzzeo: 2-game point streak (1g-2a)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies are idle today after a 6-0 win over Rochester on Tuesday, and are back in action tomorrow at Binghamton, while the Toronto Maple Leafs prevailed 5-2 at Columbus Wednesday night and host the New Jersey Devils tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

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. Florida Everblades – Wednesday, April 5 – 7 p.m – Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game
• Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades – Friday, April 7 – 7 p.m. – Fan Appreciation Night / Team Picture Giveaway Sponsored by Coors Light / Shirts Off Players Back Ceremony / Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game / Shot for $100,000

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.