LeBlanc lifts Solar Bears past Growlers in OT

ORLANDO, Fla. – Chris LeBlanc scored twice, including the game-winner, to lift the Orlando Solar Bears (9-7-2-0) to a 6-5 overtime win over the Newfoundland Growlers (14-6-1-0) on Saturday night at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

Click here for the box score.

Giorgio Estephan opened the scoring for the Growlers with a power-play goal at the 6:11 mark of the first period.

The Solar Bears responded with two goals to take a 2-1 lead into the dressing room at the intermission, as Curt Gogol redirected Rob Mann’s point shot past Michael Garteig at 16:53 for his first of the season. Gogol added another tally at 18:52 after his backhand pass deflected over the shoulder of Garteig.

Newfoundland reeled off three goals in the second period to put Orlando in a 4-2 deficit, as Brady Ferguson (4:12), Scott Pooley (9:10) and Marcus Power (10:04) managed to beat Corbin Boes.

The Solar Bears pulled back to within a goal of the Growlers when Jonne Tammela carried the puck through the slot and backhanded a shot off the pads of Garteig before Brady Shaw buried the rebound at 10:46.

Tammela netted his first of the season at 2:58 of the third frame when he brought the puck behind the Newfoundland net and wrapped the puck around the right post to tie the score at 4-4.

LeBlanc made it 5-4 with his second of the season at 3:16 when Michael Brodzinski fed LeBlanc from the Orlando goal line for a breakaway, allowing LeBlanc to speed in on Garteig before deking to his forehand and beating the goaltender.

Hudson Elynuik tied the score at 5-5 as the Growlers forward drove wide on Mann and jammed the puck past Boes at 7:21.

Regulation ended with the score tied, sending Orlando to its fifth overtime contest of the season and its first on home ice.

LeBlanc won it for the Solar Bears in the extra session during a sequence of sustained pressure in the slot, as the puck came to a standstill after glancing off of Brodzinski’s skate. As multiple players swung through Garteig’s field of vision, LeBlanc fired a shot inside the left post at 1:40 to give Orlando the win.

Boes picked up the win with 25 saves on 30 shots against; Garteig took the overtime loss with 32 stops on 38 shots against.

NOTABLES

• The win gave Orlando a 5-4-2-0 record for the month of November.
• The Solar Bears are now tied with Idaho and Rapid City for the league lead in overtime wins with three.
• Tammela led Orlando with seven shots on goal.

THREE STARS1) Chris LeBlanc – ORL2) Brady Shaw – ORL3) Curt Gogol – ORL

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears host Alzheimer’s Awareness Night, presented by Bioclinica Research and sponsored byBrown Builders Supply when they take on the Norfolk Admirals on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. During the game, the Solar Bears will wear specialty Alzheimer’s Awareness jerseys, which will be auctioned off to help benefit the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Center. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets to this game – $5 of every ticket sold will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.

2018-19 Season Presented by XYMOPrint:

The Orlando Solar Bears are proud to have local digital printing experts XYMOPrint as 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 Memberships for 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.