Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Railers - Feb. 15, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Worcester RailersVENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Thursday, Feb. 15, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: OSB Radio via MixlrTICKETS: CLICK HERE

TONIGHT: The Solar Bears (21-23-5-1) take on the expansion Worcester Railers (21-20-4-2) for the first time in franchise history. The Railers are the ECHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, and make their trip to Orlando with several players contracted through New York and the club’s AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Worcester has won six of its last eight games.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Orlando sits in fourth place in the South Division, four points ahead of fifth-place Greenville, which is in action tonight against Manchester and have one game in hand on the Solar Bears. Orlando is also seven points back of third-place Atlanta, with three games in hand on the Gladiators.

SPECIAL TEAMS BATTLE: The Solar Bears can take advantage of a Worcester power play unit that has struggled in particular on the road this season. The Railers have gone nine straight games on the road without a goal on the man advantage – their last road power-play goal came in Worcester’s 4-3 win at Adirondack on Dec. 15.

FAMILIAR FACE: The Railers possess one player on their roster with ties to the Solar Bears in goaltender Mitch Gillam. Gillam joined Orlando down the stretch last season after completing his collegiate career at Cornell University. The rookie has posted an 8-10-0 record this season for Worcester with a 2.71 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage.

BEREHOWSKY ONE WIN FROM HISTORY: Solar Bears head coach Drake Berehowsky only needs one more victory to pass Vince Williams for sole possession of the most coaching wins in ECHL Solar Bears history. With an 80-81-22 record over 183 games, Berehowsky has already coached the most games in franchise history.

STREAKS:

• Hunter Fejes – 3-game assist streak (4a)

MILESTONES:

• Drake Berehowsky – 1 win to pass Vince Williams (80) for sole possession of most head coaching victories in ECHL Solar Bears history
• Adam Phillips – 1 assist from 50 career pro assists
• Kale Kerbashian – 2 points from 250 career pro points (91g-157a)

AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies (36-11-0-1) closed out a weekend sweep of the Binghamton Devils with a 5-2 victory on Sunday, and are now the winners of seven straight. The Marlies resume play on Friday at Belleville against the Senators. The Toronto Maple Leafs (35-19-5-0) doubled up the Columbus Blue Jackets by a 6-3 score on Wednesday night, and travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday to face the Penguins.

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears are back in action against Worcester on Friday, Feb. 16 at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center at 7 p.m. Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com.

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.

Fighting Four Packs, presented by CenturyLink, are now available for purchase! Pick four games and get gift certificates to Sonny’s BBQ, Dick’s Sporting Goods, QDOBA Mexican Eats and a FREE center ice ticket to the our Hockey Fights Cancer Night game, presented by XYMOPRINT on Saturday, Feb. 17! Packs start as low as $64 and include $68 in FREE gifts! Click here or call (407) 951-8200 for more information.

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