Solar Bears hammer Nailers 5-2

ORLANDO, Fla. – Mike Monfredo and Max Novak led the way with three points, while J.J. Piccinich scored two power-play goals as the  Orlando Solar Bears (21-21-5-1) took their first of three meetings against the Wheeling Nailers (26-20-4-0) by a 5-2 score on Friday night at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

The victory gives Solar Bears head coach Drake Berehowsky 80 career wins behind the bench for Orlando, tying Vince Williams for the most wins in ECHL Solar Bears franchise history.

The Solar Bears remain in fourth place (48 points) in the South Division. Orlando remains five points behind Atlanta for third place, with three games in hand; The Solar Bears are ahead of fifth-place Greenville by four points with the same amount of games played.

Click here for the box score.

SCORING SUMMARY

Orlando: Mike Monfredo (Joshua Winquist, Darryl Bootland), Joe Perry (Max Novak, Alex Gudbranson), J.J. Piccinich (Monfredo, Novak), Piccinich (Monfredo, Sam Jardine), Max Novak (Hunter Fejes, Alex Gudbranson)

Goaltender: Cal Heeter (22/24)

Wheeling: Freddie Tiffels (Dylan Zink), Cody Wydo (Nick Sorkin)

Goaltender: Will King (29/34)

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Mike Monfredo enjoyed a three-point night (1g-2a) for the Solar Bears, opening the scoring with his third of the season at 4:17 of the first period, and assisting on both goals scored by J.J. Piccinich. The veteran blueliner now has a three-game point streak (1g-6a).
• Joe Perry netted his eighth goal of the season to give Orlando a 2-1 lead at 3:12 of the second period.
• J.J. Piccinich netted his 11th and 12th goals of the season at 8:26 and 19:47 of the second to send Orlando into the locker room with a 4-2 lead. Both goals came with the Solar Bears on the man advantage. The rookie forward now has a three-game point streak (4g-2a).
• Max Novak had a three-point night for the Solar Bears, tallying his 14th goal of the season to cap the scoring at 18:38 of the third period. He also assisted on Perry’s goal and Piccinich’s first tally.
• Alex Gudbranson chipped in a pair of assists, helping set up Perry and Novaks’ goals.
• Joshua Winquist picked up the primary assist on Monfredo’s goal to extend his point streak to three games (2g-2a).
• Darryl Bootland returned to the lineup after missing the previous two games and earned the secondary assist on Monfredo’s goal.
• Hunter Fejes earned an assist against his former club by providing a rebound opportunity that allowed Novak to bury the final goal of the night for Orlando.
• Cal Heeter earned his 12th victory of the season by making 22 saves on 24 shots against.

NOTABLES

• Orlando has improved to a lifetime 9-0-0-0 record against Wheeling with the victory.
• The Solar Bears went 2-for-4 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill.
• Fejes led Orlando with seven shots on goal.
• The Solar Bears take on the Nailers once again on Sunday, Feb. 11 at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center at a special 9:30 a.m. start time as Orlando hosts Breakfast with the Bears. Single-game tickets for the 2017-18 season are now on sale at the Amway Center box office and ticketmaster.com.

THREE STARS1) Mike Monfredo – ORL2) Max Novak – ORL3) Hunter Fejes – 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.

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 at orlandosolarbearshockey.com/shop.