Playfair, Olson lift Solar Bears to 5-3 win

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Solar Bears (28-19-4-0) used a two-goal burst in a 16-second span in the third period to come away with a 5-3 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (18-32-3-2) on Saturday night at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center.

Click here for the box score.

Orlando took the lead just 1:35 into the game when Jackson Playfair snapped a faceoff win from Otto Somppi past Garret Bartus for his second of the season.

Greenville’s Thomas Ebbing tied the score at 1-1 at 10:51 when he deflected a shot from Chad Duchesne past Martin Ouellette.

Zach Frye put Orlando up 2-1 in the second period when he made his way behind the Greenville net and emerged at the left side of the cage. After his initial shot was stopped by Bartus, the rebound popped out into the slot, where Frye stuffed in his second of the season at the 6:11 mark.

The Swamp Rabbits answered with a shorthanded goal from Brendan Harms at 7:30 to even the score at 2-2.

Playfair pulled Orlando ahead for good at 5:55 of the third period. The forward received a behind-the-net pass from Somppi in the slot and snapped home his second of the evening.

Trevor Olson scored at 6:11 to make it 4-2 when he attempted to throw the puck on goal from the right corner of the rink and his centering attempt caromed off the pads of Bartus and into the net for Olson’s 11th of the season.

Johno May pulled Greenville back to within a goal with a power-play strike at 7:08.

Mike Monfredo capped the scoring for the Solar Bears after Mathieu Foget won a faceoff back to Orlando’s captain, who fired the puck through traffic past Bartus for his seventh of the season at 7:53.

Ouellette turned aside 21 of 24 shots that he faced to earn the victory; Bartus took the loss with 33 stops on 38 shots against.

THREE STARS1) Jackson Playfair – ORL2) Otto Somppi – ORL3) Kevin Lohan – ORL

NOTABLES:

• The Solar Bears now hold a 3-2-1-0 record this season against Greenville.
• The Solar Bears have earned points in seven straight games on home ice dating back to Jan. 6 (6-0-1-0).
• Corey Kalk’s assist on Frye’s goal gives the forward a four-game point streak (5g-1a).
• Olson’s goal extends his point streak to four games (4g-1a).
• Frye’s goal extends his point streak to four games (2g-4a).
• Playfair’s two goals extends his point streak to four games (4g-2a) since beginning his pro career.
• Somppi finished the night with two assists and has recorded at least a point in each of his four games while being assigned to Orlando (2g-4a).
• Tayler Thompson earned an assist on Playfair’s second goal, giving him a three-game point streak (1g-6a).
• Cody Donaghey picked up an assist on Olson’s goal, giving the defenseman a three-game point streak (1g-2a).

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears battle the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at the ARS.com Rink at Amway Center again on Sunday, Feb. 24 at 1:30 p.m. to conclude Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend, presented by XYMOPrint. Sunday’s game is also a FAIRWINDS Solar Bears Sunday. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets for this game.

2019-20 Season Ticket Memberships on Sale Now:

Upgrade to Solar Status and become a Season Ticket Member today. Season ticket memberships for the 2019-20 season are now on sale and start as little as $270 – CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

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.