Solar Bears drop first road match of season, 5-4

DULUTH, Ga. – Despite a three-goal outburst in a span of 1:05 in the third period, Orlando Solar Bears (1-1-0-0) suffered their first defeat of the 2021-22 season on Friday night, falling to the Atlanta Gladiators (1-1-0-0) by a 5-4 score at Gas South Arena.

After the visitors fell behind 5-1 early in the third period, Jackson Keane, Jake McGrew and Kryštof Hrabík scored in quick succession to pull Orlando to within a goal, but the Gladiators held off the Solar Bears for the remainder of regulation.

BOX SCORE

1st PeriodATL Goal: Gabe Guertler (1) at 1:23. Assisted by Luke Nogard.ATL Goal: Derek Topatigh (1) at 5:11. Assisted by Gabe Guertler and Josh Thrower.ATL Goal: Hugo Roy (1) at 14:13. Assisted by Derek Nesbitt and Luke Nogard.SHOTS: ORL 9, ATL 20

2nd PeriodATL Goal: Michael Pelech (1) [SH] at 13:10. Assisted by Cody Sylvester.ORL Goal: Jake McGrew (1) [PP] at 14:58. Assisted by Kryštof Hrabík and Aaron Luchuk.SHOTS: ORL 10, ATL 11

3rd PeriodATL Goal: Hugo Roy (2) at 0:59. Assisted by Derek Nesbitt and Luke Nogard.ORL Goal: Jackson Keane (1) [PP] at 10:43. Assisted by Steenn Pasichnuk and Braydon Barker.ORL Goal: Jake McGrew (2) at 11:01. Assisted by Kyle Topping and Aaron Luchuk.ORL Goal: Kryštof Hrabík (2) at 11:48. Assisted by Michael Brodzinski and Brad Barone.SHOTS: ORL 15, ATL 8

GoaltendingORL: Zachary Émond, 28-for-33; Brad Barone, 6-for-6ATL: Chris Nell, 30-for-34

NOTABLES:

• Aaron Luchuk recorded two assists for his second consecutive multi-point game to begin the season.
• McGrew leads the Solar Bears with five points (2g-3a) through two games.
• The Solar Bears went 2-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill.
• Michael Brodzinski led Orlando with six shots on goal.
• Steenn Pasichnuk and Luke McInnis each received major penalties for fighting.
• Goaltender Brad Barone, who came on in relief of Zach Émond in the third period, recorded an assist on Hrabík’s goal.  

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears return home to face the Jacksonville Icemen on Sunday, October 31 at 1 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center for “Boo with the Bears” and the first VyStar Credit Union Solar Bears Sunday of the season.