Novak leads way with five points in 8-5 win over Everblades

ESTERO, Fla. – Max Novak tied a franchise record with four assists and five points, and the Orlando Solar Bears (31-27-6-1) set a new season-high for goals scored as they defeated the Florida Everblades (47-13-2-4) by an 8-5 score in the 14th and final Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game of the 2017-18 season on Saturday night at Germain Arena.

With the victory, the Solar Bears (65 GP, 69 points) have opened up a seven-point lead on the Atlanta Gladiators (65 GP, 62 points) for third place in the South Division. Orlando’s magic number to clinch a berth in the 2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs by securing one of the final two playoff spots in the South Division has also been reduced to five points.

Click here for the box score.

SCORING SUMMARY

Orlando: Hunter Fejes (Kale Kerbashian, Sam Jardine), Max Novak (Joe Perry, Jean Dupuy), Fejes (J.J. Piccinich), Kerbashian (Novak), Alex Gudbranson (Novak), Kerbashian (Novak, Fejes), Dupuy (Fejes, Kerbashian), Perry (Novak)

Goaltender: Cal Heeter (37/42)

Florida: Stephen MacAulay (Joe Cox, Mitchell Heard), Matt Berry (Spencer Smallman, John McCarron), Heard (Matt Mackenzie, Berry), Berry (Derek Sheppard, Smallman), Cox (MacAulay, Heard)

Goaltender: Martin Ouellette (16/21), Tyler Parks (6/8)

ON THE SCORESHEET

• Hunter Fejes scored twice for the Solar Bears and chipped in two assists for a four-point evening; Fejes initially got Orlando on the board at 16:15 of the first period with a power-play goal. Fejes added his second of the game and 27th of the season at 15:05 of the second period to give the Solar Bears a 3-2 lead.
• Max Novak tied Mathew Sisca’s single-game franchise record for assists (four, originally set Oct. 19, 2012 at Florida) and the club mark for points in a game (five, set by Michael Neal on Jan. 17, 2013 vs. Wheeling and matched by Joshua Winquist on Dec. 29, 2017 vs. Florida) with a goal and four assists. Novak scored his 19th of the season at 10:37 of the second period to tie the score at 2-2.
• Kale Kerbashian also posted a four-point game (2g-2a) for Orlando, netting his seventh of the season at 18:55 of the second on a delayed penalty to make the score 4-2. He also tallied a power-play goal that stood up as the eventual game-winner at 3:44 of the third period, that made the score 6-3.
• Alex Gudbranson buried his fourth goal of the season at 2:06 of the third period.
• Jean Dupuy had a two-point night with a goal and an assist; the forward netted his ninth of the season with a power-play marker at 5:18 of the third period to give Orlando its largest lead of the night at 7-3.
• Joe Perry capped the scoring with an empty-net goal at 17:31 of the third for his 13th tally of the season. Perry also assisted on Novak’s goal.
• Sam Jardine picked up an assist on Fejes’ first goal and received a five-minute fighting major for a tilt with Brett Bulmer at 18:55 of the second period following Kerbashian’s goal.
• J.J. Piccinich provided an assist on Fejes’ second goal.
• Cal Heeter earned his 18th victory of the season with 37 saves on 42 shots against.

NOTABLES

• Orlando concludes the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series this season with a 4-7-3-0 record against the Everblades; Orlando posted a 2-1-1 record against Florida in the final four meetings, outscoring Florida by a 13-11 margin.
• The Solar Bears went 3-for-8 on the power play and 2-for-3 on the penalty kill tonight.
• Fejes and Perry led Orlando with six shots on goal.
• Orlando is 4-0-0-0 when Gudbranson scores a goal and 11-0-0-0 when the defenseman records a point.
• Kerbashian’s game-winner was his fourth of the season and his third in the month of March for the Solar Bears.
• The Solar Bears return home to face the South Carolina Stingrays on Wednesday, March 21 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) Kale Kerbashian – ORL2) Hunter Fejes – ORL3) Max Novak – 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.

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