Brodzinski lifts Solar Bears to 4-3 OT win

WORCESTER, Mass. – Chris LeBlanc enjoyed a three-point game and Michael Brodzinski scored just 33 seconds into overtime to lift the Orlando Solar Bears (8-5-2-0) to a 4-3 victory over the Worcester Railers (6-8-2-0) on Sunday afternoon at the DCU Center.

The win gave Drake Berehowsky his 100th career victory behind the bench for Orlando (100-93-27), making him the first ECHL Solar Bears coach to reach the century mark in wins.

Click here for the box score.

Both teams played through nearly 40 minutes of scoreless hockey until Brady Shaw netted a power-play goal at the 18:43 mark of the second period, as Cody Donaghey’s shot rebounded off the pads of Charlie Millen, and Brent Pedersen knocked the puck over to Shaw for the forward’s team-leading ninth of the season.

Worcester answered with a power-play goal early in the third, as Ivan Kosorenkov tied the score at 2:23 off a cross-ice pass from Josh Holmstrom.

Chris LeBlanc made it 2-1 for the Solar Bears at 6:34 after Mike Monfredo’s shot from the left point was blocked on its way to the net, and LeBlanc fired home his first of the season past Millen.

LeBlanc then helped set up Orlando’s third goal of the contest less than two minutes later when he poked the puck away from Holmstrom at the left circle to Trevor Olson who beat Millen at 8:46 for his second tally of the season.

The Railers mounted a comeback, as Tyler Barnes netted another power-play goal at 11:02, and Matthew Gaudreau tied the score at 3-3 at 16:14 to force overtime.

The Solar Bears began the extra frame down a man with LeBlanc in the box for a delay of game infraction that was assessed late in regulation. Orlando successfully killed off the penalty, creating a four-on-four sequence after LeBlanc emerged from the box. After LeBlanc dished a pass to Troy Bourke, the forward fed Brodzinski, who had joined the rush. The defenseman cut to the inside of Tyler Mueller and snapped the game-winner past Millen just over half a minute into overtime.

Stewart picked up the win with 31 saves on 34 shots against in his first start with Orlando; Millen took the overtime loss with 28 stops on 32 shots against.

NOTABLES

• Shaw led Orlando with six shots on goal.
• The Solar Bears concluded their five-game stretch away from home with a 2-2-1-0 record. Orlando is 5-3-2-0 for the season on the road.
• Orlando is 2-2 in overtime this season. All four games have been played on the road.

THREE STARS1) Michael Brodzinski – ORL2) Matthew Gaudreau – WOR3) Chris LeBlanc – ORL

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears return home to host the South Carolina Stingrays for Wine Down Wednesday on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

2018-19 Season Presented by XYMOPrint:

The Orlando Solar Bears are proud to have local digital printing experts XYMOPrintas the presenting sponsor of the 2018-19 season. As a special offer, fans who call XYMOPrint at (888) 223-9390 from now until June 15, 2019 and reference the Solar Bears will receive 30% off their first order of 500 business cards.

2018-19 Single-Game Tickets Now on Sale:

Single-game tickets for the Orlando Solar Bears 2018-19 regular season home schedule are now on sale. Fans can purchase single-game tickets for as little as $15 at the Amway Center box office, or online at Ticketmaster.com.

2018-19 Season Ticket Memberships:

Season Ticket Membershipsfor the seventh season of ECHL Orlando Solar Bears hockey are now on sale. Full and Half-Season memberships are both available, starting as low as $270. For more information, call (407) 951-8200 or visit orlandosolarbearshockey.com.

About the Orlando Solar Bears:

The Orlando Solar Bears are the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning and members of the ECHL, the premier “AA” hockey league in North America. In six seasons of operation, the team has qualified for the Kelly Cup Playoffs four times. 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.

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