Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Everblades - April 5, 2017

Solar Bears Game 70 • Home Game 35 • ECHL Game 946

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears (35-24-7-3) vs. rilorida Everblades (44-20-2-3)VENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Wednesday, April 5, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: Listen on MixlrTICKETS: Click here to purchase tickets.PROMOTION: Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game & $10 Club Level tickets (purchase here), courtesy of Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson.

South Division Playoff Picture:1st: Florida Everblades – CLINCHED DIVISION2nd: Greenville Swamp Rabbits – 70 GP, 39-25-5-1 record, 84 points, 37 ROW – CLINCHED PLAYOFF POSITION3rd: Orlando Solar Bears – 69 GP, 35-24-7-3 record, 80 points, 32 ROW4th: South Carolina Stingrays – 69 GP, 37-28-3-1 record, 78 points, 36 ROW5th: Cincinnati Cyclones – 70 GP, 36-29-4-1 record, 77 points, 32 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 begin their final week of the 2016-17 regular season with their penultimate match on home ice against the Florida Everblades. Although Florida has already secured a victory in the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series against Orlando this season, the Solar Bears are the most recent victors in head-to-head play, coming off a 5-3 win at Germain Arena on March 18, in which Orlando went 3-for-7 on the power play against Florida. A win tonight for the Solar Bears will secure a berth in the 2017 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

PERRY LEADS WAY AGAINST EVERBLADES:Joe Perry is the only player on Orlando’s roster to dress for every game against the Everblades this season, and leads the team in goals (5), points (10) and plus-minus (+4) against Florida.

ESTABLISHING FIRST PERIOD LEAD WILL BE CRITICAL FOR SOLAR BEARS:The Solar Bears lead the league in first-period goals with 79, and will need that opening firepower to build a solid lead against the Everblades, whose offense doesn’t get clicking until the second period – Florida has scored 94 second-period goals this season and 91 in the third.

MASSA HAS CHANCE TO ECLIPSE SPARKS’ SINGLE-SEASON RECORD:After Friday’s win over South Carolina, Ryan Massa earned his 21st victory of the season for Orlando, tying the club single-season record previously established by Garret Sparks in 2014-15. Massa has been the man between the pipes in all three of Orlando’s victories against Florida this season, and is expected to get the start tonight following Mitch Gillam’s pro debut on Sunday.

HEAD TO HEADOverall: 3-7-1-0Home: 2-3-0-0Away: 1-4-1-02015-16 Overall: 4-10-0-02015-16 Home: 2-6-0-02015-16 Away: 2-4-0-0Last 5 Years: 27-39-3-1Last 5 Years Home: 13-19-1-0Last 5 Years Away: 14-20-2-1

ACTIVE LEADERSPoints: Faille – 68Goals: Perry – 34Assists: Buzzeo – 43+/-: Doherty – +23PIM: Miller – 82SOG: Perry – 208

BEAR TRACKER

• Baier: Two assists from 100 in ECHL career
• Manderson: Four points from 200 in pro career
• Massa: One win from setting new Solar Bears record for most wins in a single-season (tied with Garret Sparks at 21)
• Perry: Two assists from 50 in pro career

STREAKS

• Crane: 4-game point streak (1g-4a)
• Jutzi: 3-game assist streak (4a)
• Marchment: 4-game point streak (5g-3a)Witala: 2-game assist streak (2a)

AFFILIATE NOTES:The Toronto Marlies are idle today but can clinch a spot in the AHL’s Calder Cup Playoffs with an Albany Devils loss against the Syracuse Crunch. The Toronto Maple Leafs fell 4-1 to Washington last night but have the chance to bounce back tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

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 – 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.