Solar Bears end week with 6-3 win over Stingrays

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Orlando Solar Bears (5-4-1-0) closed out a busy week with their largest offensive performance of the season with a 6-3 victory over the South Carolina Stingrays (5-3-0-0) on Sunday afternoon at the North Charleston Coliseum.

After falling behind 1-0 in the first period, Aaron Luchuk and Steenn Pasichnuk scored to give Orlando a 2-1 edge before Carter Cowlthorp scored to tie the score at 2-2 for South Carolina.

Canon Pieper put Orlando ahead in the second period with his first of two on the day when he banked a shot in behind Ryan Bednard from the right circle, and the Solar Bears never relinquished the lead.

A late second period penalty to the Stingrays carried over into the third stanza, and Tyler Bird scored the eventual game-winner just 12 seconds into the frame a moment after the infraction to Jordan Subban expired.

Pieper added his second of the afternoon, and Michael Brodzinski sealed the game with an empty-netter to complete a three-point afternoon for the defenseman.

BOX SCORE

1st Period

SC Goal: Alex Brink (1) [PP] at 5:11. Assisted by Nate Pionk and Victor Hadfield.ORL Goal: Aaron Luchuk (8) at 6:30. Assisted by Tyler Bird and Luke Boka.ORL Goal: Steenn Pasichnuk (2) at 11:03. Assisted by Chad Duchesne and Ian Parker.SC Goal: Carter Cowlthorp (1) at 14:52. Assisted by Patrick Holway and Nate Pionk.SHOTS: ORL 8, SC 12

2nd PeriodORL Goal: Canon Pieper (2) at 9:27. Assisted by Fabrizio Ricci and Kevin Lohan.SHOTS: ORL 12, SC 7

3rd PeriodORL Goal: Tyler Bird (5) at 0:12. Assisted by Aaron Luchuk and Michael Brodzinski.ORL Goal: Canon Pieper (3) at 4:07. Assisted by Michael Brodzinski and Fabrizio Ricci.SC Goal: Victor Hadfield (2) at 14:51. Assisted by Lawton Courtnall and Patrick Holway.ORL Goal: Michael Brodzinski (2) [EN] at 19:22.SHOTS: ORL 11, SC 17

GoaltendingORL: Brad Barone, 33-for-36SC: Ryan Bednard, 25-for-30

NOTABLES:

• Bird ended the game tied for the league lead in goals for the week, with five in five games.
• Luchuk finished the day with 1g-1a, to extend his point streak to 10 games (8g-10a) to begin the year; he either leads or is tied for the league lead in goals, assists and points.
• Brodzinski three points gave the defenseman his first multi-point outing of the season.
• Brad Barone earned his third win of the week in four appearances, making 127 total saves.
• Fabrizio Ricci collected a pair of assists,
• The win was Orlando’s first of the season when allowing the first goal.  

NEXT GAME: The Solar Bears complete their road trip when they visit the Florida Everblades on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Hertz Arena. Orlando is back on home ice to take on the Maine Mariners on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at the AdventHealth Rink at Amway Center.