Thompson scores to give Solar Bears 3-2 OT win

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tayler Thompson scored in overtime to help the Orlando Solar Bears (25-18-3-0) complete a 3-0-0-0 week and jump into third place in the ECHL’s South Division with a 3-2 win over the Jacksonville Icemen (24-21-2-2) on Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Arena.

Click here for the box score.

Cody Donaghey made his return to the lineup after serving a five-game suspension, and his presence paid dividends on the power play in the first period. The blueliner opened the scoring with his 10th goal of the season when he one-timed a feed at the left circle past Ken Appleby at 5:19 to give Orlando a 1-0 lead.

Michael Brodzinski then extended the lead to 2-0 with another power-play goal at 16:23. The defenseman one-timed a pass from Jonne Tammela and hammered a shot past Appleby for his seventh of the season.

The Icemen got on the board when Garet Hunt redirected a point shot from Blake Kessel past Martin Ouellette at 18:21.

Jacksonville then tied the score at 2-2 with a shorthanded goal in the second period when Cody Fowlie drove up the left side of the ice and cut across the crease before stuffing the puck past Ouellette at 3:35.

Neither team could break the deadlock in the third period, sending the contest to overtime.

Thompson sealed the contest for Orlando when the Icemen turned the puck over in the Solar Bears zone, leading to a three-on-one odd-man rush. Dylan Fitze carried the puck back into the Jacksonville zone and fed Zach Frye. Frye’s one-timer from the high slot was tipped in front of the net by Thompson at 3:49 of the extra period to end the game and give Thompson his fourth goal of the season.

Ouellette earned the win with 30 saves on 32 shots against; Appleby took the overtime loss with 36 saves on 39 shots against.

THREE STARS1) Zach Frye – ORL2) Martin Ouellette – ORL3) Garet Hunt – JAX

NOTABLES

• Orlando improved to 7-2-0-0 on the season against the Icemen with the victory and has a one-point lead on Jacksonville for third place in the South Division.
• The Solar Bears are now 9-0-3-0 in games played past regulation this season. Orlando is 7-0-3-0 in overtime. The Solar Bears’ 21 points earned by playing past regulation is tied with Idaho for the league lead.
• Thompson now has a two-game point streak (1g-1a). His last three goals have all been game-winners for Orlando, including two overtime goals.
• Brodzinski and Donaghey each turned in 1g-1a performances.
• Tammela’s two assists gives him a three-game point streak (2g-2a).
• Fitze’s assist on Thompson’s goal improves his point streak to three games (2g-1a).
• Mike Monfredo’s assist on Tammela’s goal gives the defenseman a four-game point streak (1g-3a).

NEXT GAMES: The Solar Bears remain on the road but stay in the Sunshine State when they face the Florida Everblades on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. Orlando’s next home game is Single & Mingle Night against the Icemen on Friday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. CLICK HERE to purchase a Single & Mingle Night package that includes a ticket to the game, one drink ticket and access to an exclusive Single & Mingle pregame mixer before the game.

Fighting Four Packs presented by CenturyLink:

Gear up for the second half of the 2018-19 season with a Fighting Four Pack, presented by CenturyLink! Pick any four remaining home games and get $65 dollars in gift certificates to Dick’s Sporting Goods, First Watch, QDOBA Mexican Eats and a FREE center ice ticket to the Saturday, Feb. 23 game against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, part of Hockey Fights Cancer Weekend, presented by XYMOPrint. Packs start as low as $69.99 – CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE.

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.