'Blades Fall in 12-Round Shootout at Orlando

ORLANDO, FL – Sean Lorenz scored in the twelfth round of the overtime shootout to help give the Orlando Solar Bears a 4-3 victory over the Florida Everblades at the Amway Center Saturday night.

The Everblades struck first at 4:20 into the first period.  Brandon MacLean picked up the puck along the goaline to the left of the Orlando net. MacLean fired the puck off of the back of the leg of Solar Bears goaltender John Curry, which banked into the back of the net to give Florida the 1-0 lead.

It did not take long for the Solar Bears to respond, as Matt Sisca tied the game at one at 6:45. Sisca fired a wrist shot from the right wing circle which beta Everblades goaltender Pat Nagle on the shortside.

Florida grabbed the lead back on the power play as Matt Beca received a cross ice pass and buried the puck high into the net past Curry to give Florida a 2-1 advantage.  Moments later, Orlando tied it again as Michael Wilson fired a backhand shot from the low circle which  again beat Nagle on the shortside putting the score at 2-2 at the end of one.

In the second, Orlando took its first lead of the game, when defenseman Simon Danis-Pepin dragged the puck around the defender and fired a wrist shot over the shoulder of Nagle for the goal lifting the Solar Bears to a 3-2 lead, which was a lead they would take into the second intermission.

Early into the third,  the ‘Blades would tie the game at three. With a scramble in front of the Orlando net, the puck found its way to the stick of Beca who lifted a shot high into the net past an outstretched Curry.

Both teams had plenty of quality chances throughout the remainder of the third, but both goaltenders came up with several clutch saves, sending the game into overtime.

Neither team was unable to generate much in overtime, the game would have to be decided in the shootout. Neither team could score in the shootout until the tenth round, when Kyle Medvec blasted a slapshot past Nagle. However, Alex Hutching kept the game alive for the ‘Blades sneaking a shot past Curry in the bottom half of the tenth round.

In the twelfth round, Sean Lorenz scored to put Orlando ahead. Aaron Bogosian was unable to score and tie it up as Curry stopped his wrist shot to seal the 4-3 shootout victory for Orlando.  Despite the loss, the ‘Blades do pick up a big point in the standings on the road.

The Everblades will return home on Wednesday, October 24 against the South Carolina Stingrays.  Fans can enjoy $2 Hot Dogs, $2 drafts, $2 Wines all night long! College night: ladies get in free & guys receive a $5 ticket when they present their college I.D. to the Capital Bank Box Office.