Crane helps Solar Bears secure point in OT loss

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (17-17-5-1) got two power-play goals from Chris Crane, including a tying score in the final minutes of regulation, but Orlando only came away with one point after falling in overtime by a 3-2 score to the Florida Everblades (29-6-1-2) on Saturday night at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

The point earned moves the Solar Bears into fourth place in the ECHL’s South Division. Orlando remains three points behind third-place Atlanta, with three games in hand.

Click here for the box score.

SCORING SUMMARY

Orlando: Chris Crane (Joe Perry, J.J. Piccinich), Crane (Perry, Piccinich)

Goaltender: Cal Heeter (28/31)

Florida: Clark Seymour (Stephen MacAulay), John McCarron, MacAulay (Nelson Armstrong, Joe Cox)

Goaltender: Martin Ouellette (35/37)

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Chris Crane netted both goals for the Solar Bears on the man advantage. Crane’s first came at 18:36 of the first period, as he smacked a loose puck past Martin Ouellette to get the Solar Bears on the board after falling into a 2-0 hole. Crane followed that up with the tying score at 16:19 of the third period by grabbing a loose puck at the side of the net and firing it past a sprawled Ouellette. It was the forward’s second multi-goal game of the season.
• Joe Perry turned in a two-assist performance for his third multi-point effort of the season.
• J.J. Piccinich also assisted on both of Crane’s goals. It was the rookie’s third game of the season in which he registered a pair of assists.
• Cal Heeter took the overtime loss with 28 saves on 31 shots against.

NOTABLES

• The Solar Bears went 2-for-5 on the power play and a perfect 5-for-5 on the penalty kill.
• Perry led Orlando with six shots on goal.
• The Solar Bears are back in action on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 p.m. for another Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game against the Everblades at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center for a FAIRWINDS Solar Bears Sunday. Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com.

THREE STARS1) Stephen MacAulay – FLA2) Chris Crane – ORL3) Cal Heeter – ORL

About the Orlando Solar Bears:

The Orlando Solar Bears are in their sixth season of operation in the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America, and are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs and the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. The Solar Bears are owned and operated by the Orlando Magic and the DeVos Family, and play at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, the 2012 Street and Smith’s Sports Business Journal Sports Facility of the Year.

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