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When we last checked in on the Orlando Solar Bears, things didn’t look so good. The team had just been shutout by division rival South Carolina, and found themselves near the bottom of the league—and last in the South Division—in points.
One week later, a busy homestand saw the team win 3 out of 4 games, and jump from last place in the division into a playoff spot.
Roster Moves:
-On Tuesday, Oleg Sosunov headed back north to Syracuse after appearing in 3 games in his latest ECHL stint.
-Prior to Thursday’s game, rookie forward Jimmy Huntington was reassigned to the Solar Bears for the second time this season. In his last visit in late October, he had one goal and two assists in 3 games.
Monday, 12/2: Orlando 4, South Carolina 3 (OT)
For the second time in three days, the Stingrays and Solar Bears faced off in a rare Monday night showdown.
Here's tonight's starting lineup! pic.twitter.com/Oj4Tpenyxj
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 2, 2019
Before most fans at the Amway Center were likely in their seats, South Carolina took a 1-0 lead on a Jordan Klimek goal 59 seconds after puck drop. The visitors doubled their lead at the 9:01 mark on Andrew Cherniwchan’s 8th goal of the season.
Give @cherny22 this much space in front of the net and he'll make you pay! His 8th of the year gave us a 2-0 lead. #RaysUpSC pic.twitter.com/1XkH4n8aWv
— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) December 3, 2019
Orlando cut the Stingrays lead in half with 5:34 to go in the first on Jake Coughler’s first goal of the year.
The Solar Bears tied the game at 2 on a Blake Kessel goal just four seconds into their first power play of the night.
More of this, please! #OSBvsSC pic.twitter.com/IugwXn4hk7
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 3, 2019
Less than two minutes later, the Stingrays took a 3-2 lead on a power play goal by Jonathan Charbonneau.
It didn't take long for @JoCharbs22 to convert on this power play opportunity and put us back in front 3-2! #RaysUpSC pic.twitter.com/STg4kYWRCx
— SC Stingrays (@SCStingrays) December 3, 2019
Orlando tied the game at 3 53 seconds into the third on a Trevor Olson goal, his 4th of the season. South Carolina thought they had the game winning goal past Zachary Fucale with just 38 seconds remaining in regulation, but was waved off. The game headed into overtime, where Tristin Langan sent the Solar Bears faithful home happy with his 4th goal of the season 2:38 into the extra frame, giving Orlando a much needed victory and lifted them out of the South Division basement.
Saturday we took an "L" but tonight we BOUNCED back! Langan scores in sudden death overtime, and Bears take the win! #OSBvsSC pic.twitter.com/vCIeDHf88H
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 3, 2019
Fucale stopped 24 of 27 in the win. Colby McAuley and Michael Brodzinski each had two assists.
Let’s go to the locker room for some postgame comments:
Tristin Langan's first career game-winner last night gave us our first OT win of the season — check out the reaction from inside the locker room afterwards thanks to our partners at @JewettOrtho! pic.twitter.com/pfG2DRHcu3
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 3, 2019
3 Stars:
3. Jake Coughler (ORL) 1 goal, 1 assist
2. Tristin Langan (ORL) GW OT goal
1. Colby McAuley (ORL) 2 assists
Tonight we faced the top team in the South Division and came away with two HUGE points. Read up in our @AdventHealth Postgame Report: https://t.co/xmbaF4nnzQ
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 3, 2019
Thursday, 12/5: Orlando 4, Jacksonville 3 (OT)
The homestand continued for the Solar Bears on Thursday, as the IceMen came south for a visit.
Here's tonight's starting lineup! pic.twitter.com/bZtHIqqeBm
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 5, 2019
The teams exchanged goals in the opening period. Ryan Lohin put the Solar Bears on the board with just over 5 minutes to go in the first with his second of the season. Dajon Mingo tied the game up for Jacksonville with 8 seconds to go in the period.
Orlando took a 2-1 lead 11:05 into the second on a power play goal by Alexey Lipanov, his fourth of the season. The IceMen matched that with a power play goal of their own, tying the game at 2 exactly two minutes, courtesy of Pierre-Luc Mercier’s first of the year. Jacksonville took a 3-2 lead with 3:12 remaining on a Bobby Lynch goal, only to have the Solar Bears re-tie the game at 3 on Coughler’s second of the season just over a minute later.
After a scoreless third, it was off to overtime for the second straight game for Orlando. And also for the second straight game, the Solar Bears got the win, as Kessel scored the game winner with 2:16 remaining in the extra frame.
SOLAR BEARS WIN! Kessel scores in sudden death overtime with a final score of 4-3! #OSBvsJAX pic.twitter.com/dyRkV0iNGf
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 6, 2019
Fucale stopped 32 of 35 shots for the win. Defenseman Eric Drapluk added two assists.
Back to the Orlando locker room for post game reaction:
Inside the locker room following Thursday night's 4-3 OT victory, thanks to our friends at @JewettOrtho! pic.twitter.com/TEtHg7bBnX
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 6, 2019
3 Stars:
3. Jake Coughler (ORL) 1 goal
2. Eric Drapluk (ORL) 2 assists
1. Blake Kessel (ORL) GW OT goal, 1 assist
Two big standings points earned tonight — get the recap in the @AdventHealth Postgame Report: https://t.co/udvMyZUykB
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 6, 2019
Friday, 12/6: Orlando 3, Atlanta 1
The homestand continued 24 hours later for the Solar Bears, as the Gladiators came into town for the first of two.
Starting lineup tonight for the Bears. pic.twitter.com/XyX8YTdYq6
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 6, 2019
After an early Solar Bears goal was disallowed, the teams exchanged goals within 17 seconds of each other in the first. Dante Hannoun got the visitors on the board first, only to have McAuley tie the game up with his second goal of the season.
Just taking a quick look back at that beauty scored by McAuley. #OSBvsATL pic.twitter.com/iOE2pBAc2Q
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 7, 2019
Chris LeBlanc put the Solar Bears up by a goal 1:54 into the second period. Atlanta tried to re-tie the game, but goaltender Clint Windsor was not having it.
Clint Windsor, that was just mean! pic.twitter.com/4pKkr5LIm0
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 7, 2019
Jimmy Lodge added an insurance power play goal 59 seconds into the third to seal Orlando’s third straight win. Windsor took care of the rest, finishing with 43 saves on 44 shots. Brodzinski added two assists.
Postgame, Windsor had a few words:
Making a career-high 43 saves will get you some love from your teammates, as Clint Windsor found out tonight after our 3-1 win over the Gladiators, receiving the @JewettOrtho Player's Choice Award from Blake Kessel. pic.twitter.com/knmnwJJ8qc
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 7, 2019
3 Stars:
3. Jimmy Lodge (ORL) 1 goal
2. Michael Brodzinski (ORL) 2 assists
1. Clint Windsor (ORL) 43 saves
Third win of the week for the good guys — get the rundown in tonight's @AdventHealth Postgame Report: https://t.co/bwhcU3BkYg
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 7, 2019
Those Jerseys Though...
Before we recap Saturday’s Teddy Bear Toss game, we need to talk about the Christmas tree jerseys. Prior to Friday’s game, the team revealed the specialty sweaters the players would be sporting for Saturday’s contest. Let’s just say...Clark Griswold was impressed?
We found the perfect tree pic.twitter.com/xvTsV4Fw0D
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 6, 2019
Naturally, the jerseys went viral, as BarDown and other national media outlets picked up on the reveal.
The Orlando Solar Bears will look like giant Christmas trees for their Teddy Bear Toss game. VIDEO @ https://t.co/fShJHZOnk8 pic.twitter.com/wBv05YFh1Q
— BarDown (@BarDown) December 7, 2019
Christmas sweaters and tree puns? We're here fir it. https://t.co/vt6bRd12pD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 7, 2019
Saturday, 12/7: Atlanta 3, Orlando 2 (OT)
The Solar Bears—and those jerseys—finished off a busy week with a rematch against Atlanta.
Here are your starters FIR tonight pic.twitter.com/MFlyqgL0jA
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 7, 2019
The Gladiators got off to a good start in the opening period against Fucale. Tommy Marchin put the visitors on the board at the 6:41 mark with his 11th goal of the season. Eric Neiley doubled the Atlanta lead with just under 5 minutes remaining in the period with his 6th of the year.
Orlando cut the lead in half—and sent the bears flying—7:26 into the second period, as Tayler Thompson scored his first of the year shorthanded.
It's the most magical time of the year, first goal for teddy bear toss, the Amway Center is full of cheer! #OSBvsATL pic.twitter.com/WdRcboOsBD
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 8, 2019
Less than two minutes later, Langan tied the game up at 2 with his 5th goal.
After a scoreless third, the Solar Bears were off to overtime for the third time in four games this week. Unfortunately, the third time was not the charm. Neiley scored his second of the night with 2:36 remaining to prevent Orlando from going 4-for-4 on the week.
Fucale finished with 31 saves on 34 shots.
3 Stars:
3. Tommy Marchin (ATL) 1 goal
2. Tayler Thompson (ORL) 1 goal
1. Eric Neiley (ATL) 2 goals, 1 assist
We finished the week with seven of eight possible points — read the @AdventHealth Postgame Report for the recap of tonight's game against the Gladiators: https://t.co/v5nddfScPG
— Orlando Solar Bears (@OrlandoHockey) December 8, 2019
This Week:
No rest for the weary, as Orlando hits the road for four straight.
The trip begins on Tuesday in South Carolina against the Stingrays. Then, it’s a ridiculously scheduled 3 in 3 weekend: the Solar Bears play in Greenville Friday night and Sunday afternoon, and head to Jacksonville Saturday in between. The distance between the cities? 387 miles, or 5 hours and 30 minutes. Welcome to the ECHL, folks.