The Orlando Solar Bears (31-22-6-3) tied their season-high with three power-play goals as they skated to a 5-3 victory over the Florida Everblades (41-16-2-3) for their first road victory of the Wawa Sunshine Cup Series on Saturday night at Germain Arena.

Stephen MacAulay opened the scoring for the Everblades at 4:44 of the first period when he shielded the puck at the bottom of the right circle on a broken play and threw it past Ryan Massa into the upper-right corner of the net.

Orlando found the tying score when Eric Faille dished the puck from behind the net to Daniel Maggio at the right circle, and the forward one-timed a blast above the shoulder of Anthony Peters at 9:27.

MacAulay buried another goal early in the second period to give the home team a 2-1 lead as he brought the puck from the bottom of the right circle towards the slot and fired a shot past Massa at 3:20.

After Chris Crane was whistled for tripping at 9:49, Eric Faille recovered the puck from Michael Kirkpatrick on the defensive zone face-off and brought it up into the attacking zone, finding Brenden Miller in the slot for a shorthanded goal at 10:02 to even the score.

The Everblades gained their third lead of the night when Brendan Harms struck just 1:08 into the third period to make it 3-2 in favor of the hosts.

After Denver Manderson was hit along the boards by Dalton Smith, Maggio came to his teammate's aid and dropped the gloves with Smith in a spirited bout at 4:12.

The boarding penalty to Smith sent Orlando to the power play, and the Solar Bears capitalized on their chance when Justin Buzzeo made his way into the slot and backhanded a pass to Faille at the left post, who then directed it across the crease for Joe Perry to hammer in his team-leading 31st goal of the season at 5:59.

Crane gave Orlando its first lead of the contest on the power play when the Solar Bears continued to apply pressure in the offensive zone, and Patrick Watling's shot from the right point glanced off the pads of Peters before Crane elevated the puck over the goalie's leg at 12:07.

Miller capped the scoring with his second tally of the game during a subsequent 5-on-3 man advantage, as Miller one-timed a pass from Buzzeo into the cage at 18:54.

Massa earned the victory with 22 saves on 25 shots against; Peters took the loss with 35 stops on 40 shots against.

Three Stars:

1) Joe Perry - ORL

2) Stephen MacAulay - FLA

3) Chris Crane - ORL

NEXT HOME GAMES:

  • Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - Wednesday, April 5 - 7 p.m - Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game
  • Solar Bears vs. Florida Everblades - Friday, April 7 - 7 p.m. - Fan Appreciation Night / Team Picture Giveaway Sponsored by Coors Light / Shirts Off Players Back Ceremony / Wawa Sunshine Cup Series game / $100,000 Shot

Article provided and written by the Orlando Solar Bears.