Solar Bears drop series finale to Nailers

ORLANDO, Fla. – J.J. Piccinich scored the lone goal for the Orlando Solar Bears (21-23-5-1) on Monday night as Orlando fell by a 4-1 score to the Wheeling Nailers (28-20-4-0) in their final meeting of the season at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

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

Click here for the box score.

SCORING SUMMARY

Orlando: J.J. Piccinich (Max Novak, Hunter Fejes)

Goaltender: Cal Heeter (18/21)

Wheeling: Riley Bourbonnais (Michael Turner, Justin Taylor), Kevin Schulze (Bourbonnais), Schulze (Nick Sorkin, Garret Meurs), Cody Wydo

Goaltender: Adam Morrison (41/42)

ON THE SCORESHEET

• J.J. Piccinich registered his 13th goal of the season at 5:22 of the third period to get Orlando on the board after the Nailers had taken a 3-0 lead in the second period.
• Max Novak had the primary assist on Piccinich’s tally.
• Hunter Fejes added the secondary assist on Piccinich’s goal. Fejes now has three-game assist streak (4a).
• Cal Heeter took the loss, making 18 saves on 21 shots against.

NOTABLES

• Joshua Winquist led Orlando with seven shots on goal.
• The Solar Bears welcome the expansion Worcester Railers to Orlando for the first time on Thursday, Feb. 15 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.

THREE STARS1) Kevin Schulze – WHL2) Adam Morrison – WHL3) Riley Bourbonnais – WHL

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.