Game Preview: Solar Bears at Stingrays - March 31, 2017

Solar Bears Game 68 • Away Game 34 • ECHL Game 916

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (34-24-6-3) at South Carolina Stingrays (36-27-3-1)VENUE: North Charleston Coliseum, North Charleston, S.C.DATE: Friday, March 31, 7:05 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Listen on MixlrPROMOTION: Playoff Push Bear Crawl – Join us as we make our drive for a spot in the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs at the Playoff Push Bear Crawl tonight starting at 6:30 p.m.! Both Harry Buffalo and Ferg’s Depot will feature a live stream of tonight’s game against the South Carolina Stingrays. The Bear Crawl will begin with registration at Harry Buffalo in Downtown Orlando at 6:30 p.m. Participants will also be able to enter into a raffle to win one of five specialty jerseys. For more information click here.

South Division Playoff Picture:1st: Florida Everblades – CLINCHED DIVISION2nd: Greenville Swamp Rabbits – 68 GP, 38-25-4-1 record, 81 points, 36 ROW3rd: Orlando Solar Bears – 67 GP, 34-24-6-3 record, 77 points, 31 ROW4th: South Carolina Stingrays – 67 GP, 36-27-3-1 record, 76 points, 35 ROW5th: Cincinnati Cyclones – 67 GP, 35-28-4-0 record, 74 points, 31 ROW6th: Atlanta Gladiators – ELIMINATED7th: Norfolk Admirals – ELIMINATED

**Top four teams in each division qualify for the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs. First tie-breaker after points is ROW (Regulation + Overtime Wins)

TONIGHT:The Orlando Solar Bears continue the penultimate week of the regular season with the first of two games against the South Carolina Stingrays. Orlando sits just one point ahead of South Carolina for third in the ECHL’s South Division. Although the teams have each won three games against the other this season, the Solar Bears have outscored the Stingrays in head-to-head competition by a 16-14 margin.

MASSA CAN MATCH SPARKS’ RECORD:With 20 wins this season, Ryan Massa’s next victory for Orlando will tie Garret Sparks’ single-season club record for wins in a season, and will set a new personal best for total wins in a season – Massa recorded 19 wins with Orlando in 2015-16 and added an additional win in his lone contest with the Toronto Marlies. The sophomore goaltender is already the franchise leader in games played (75), minutes (4,291), wins (39) and saves (2,462).

DOHERTY SET TO PLAY FIRST GAME AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA:Due to beginning the season with the Toronto Marlies and two call-ups to the Providence Bruins, veteran defenseman Taylor Doherty had yet to play a game for Orlando against the Stingrays this season. That could very well change tonight, as Doherty can provide some much-needed size to the lineup against a Stingrays team.

BUBELA FINDING BACK OF NET:After recording two goals including the game-winner over Brampton on Sunday, Milos Bubela chipped in a goal in Orlando’s 5-4 loss to Adirondack on Tuesday, giving the forward goals in consecutive games and the first goal-scoring streak of his pro career.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 3-3-0-0Home: 2-2-0-0Away: 1-1-0-02015-16 Overall: 2-5-0-12015-16 Home: 0-4-0-02015-16 Away: 2-1-0-1Last 5 Years: 16-22-3-2Last 5 Years Home: 7-13-2-1Last 5 Years Away: 9-9-1-1

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Faille – 66Goals: Perry – 33Assists: Buzzeo – 43+/-: Doherty & Miller – +18PIM: Miller – 82SOG: Perry – 199

BEAR TRACKER

• Baier: Three assists from 100 in pro career
• Faille: Two goals from 50 with Orlando; One point for 200 in pro career
• Manderson: Four points from 200 in pro career
• Massa: One win from tying Garret Sparks for most wins in a single-season (21)
• Perry: Three assists from 50 in pro career, one shot on goal from new franchise single-season record (tied with Ryan Cruthers at 199)

STREAKS

• Bradley: 2-game assist streak (2a)
• Bubela: 2-game point streak (3g-1a)
• Buzzeo: 2-game point streak (1g-1a)
• Cameranesi: 3-game point streak (2g-2a)
• Crane: 2-game point streak (1g-2a)
• Faille: 4-game point streak (4g-3a)
• Marchment: 2-game point streak (1g-3a)
• Witala: 2-game assist streak (2a)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies are in Syracuse tonight with a 7 p.m. puck-drop against the Crunch, while the Toronto Maple Leafs held off the Nashville Predators for a 3-1 road win and return to action on Saturday in a primetime battle against the Detroit Red Wings.

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.