Game Preview: Solar Bears vs. Everblades - Feb. 21, 2018

WHO: Orlando Solar Bears vs. Florida EverbladesVENUE: ARS.com Rink at Amway Center, Orlando, Fla.DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 7 p.m.WATCH: ECHL.TVLISTEN: ESPN 580 AMTICKETS: CLICK HERE

TONIGHT: The Solar Bears (23-24-5-1) resume their 14-game Wawa Sunshine Cup Series against the Florida Everblades (35-11-1-4). Orlando has posted a 2-5-2-0 record against Florida this season; five of Orlando’s remaining 19 games are against the Everblades.

PLAYOFF PICTURE: Orlando sits in fourth place in the South Division, four points ahead of fifth-place Norfolk, with one game in hand. Orlando is also five points back of third-place Atlanta, with three games in hand on the Gladiators.

SOLAR BEARS TO RIDE HOT HAND IN GOAL: Goaltender Mackenzie Skapski will have an opportunity to follow up Saturday’s 32-save performance against Worcester with another start tonight against Florida. Skapski has been the man in net for both of Orlando’s victories against the Everblades this season, and has posted a 2-2-0 record with a 2.29 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage in the month of February.

FLORIDA LOADS UP: Since the last meeting between these teams two weeks ago, the Everblades have seen several players returned to the club. 40-point scorer Michael Kirkpatrick has rejoined the team after a brief stint in Cleveland of the AHL, while forward Spencer Smallman and goaltender Callum Booth have been reassigned to the team from the Charlotte Checkers.

WINQUIST LEADS SOLAR BEARS: The Solar Bears are paced in the regular season series against Florida by Joshua Winquist. The forward has accumulated 10 points (4g-6a) in seven games

MILESTONES:

• Chris Crane – 1 point from 150 career ECHL points (73g-76a)
• Alex Gudbranson – 1 point from 50 career pro points (12g-37a)
• Adam Phillips – 1 assist from 50 career pro assists

AFFILIATE NOTES: The Toronto Marlies (38-14-0-1) dropped a late-morning clash with the Binghamton Devils, and will look to get back in the win column on Friday at Rochester. The Toronto Maple Leafs (37-20-5-0) blanked the Florida Panthers 1-0 on Tuesday and resume play against the New York Islanders on Thursday.

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears hit the road for a Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game against the Florida Everblades on Friday, Feb. 23 at Germain Arena at 7:30 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.

Fiesta 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 our Noche Latina game, presented by Auto Justice Attorney Michael T. Gibson on Friday, March 23 against the South Carolina Stingrays! 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.