PREVIEW: 'Blades visit Solar Bears for Sunday matinee

ORLANDO, Fla. — Playing for the third time in three days, the Florida Everblades (32-11-3-2, 69 pts.) aim to stretch their point streak to 12 games when they travel to face the Orlando Solar Bears (21-20-5-1, 48 pts.) on Sunday afternoon at the Amway Center.  

VITALS:Game 49: Everblades at Orlando Solar BearsWhen: 3 p.m. ETWhere: Amway CenterWatch: ECHL TVListen: WJBX (101.5 FM, 104.3 FM, 770 AM)Social: Twitter | Instagram

Last time outFlorida scored two shorthanded goals and potted two goals in each of the first two periods to coast to a 5-1 win over the Greenville Swamp Rabbits on Saturday at Hertz Arena. In the series finale of a two-game set, the 'Blades received a two-goal game from Blake Winiecki, a three-point night from Michael Huntebrinker (1g, 2a), and a 25-save effort from Ken Appleby to earn the series sweep. RECAP

Series At A GlanceAfter not squaring off for almost three months, the 'Blades and Solar Bears will meet for the second time this week on Sunday afternoon. Including Sunday's game, Florida still has seven games remaining against Orlando this season. The 'Blades have posted a 5-1-1 record against the Solar Bears this year but have played in Orlando just twice so far. Florida holds a 66-25-8 all-time record against Orlando since the Solar Bears joined the ECHL in the 2012-13 season. Sunday's tilt is the first time since Jan. 21, 2018, that the 'Blades have faced the Solar Bears in a Sunday road game. 

Players to WatchBlake Winiecki (FLA) - The second-year pro posted his third multi-goal game of the season and eighth of his career on Saturday against Greenville to help pace the 'Blades offense. Winiecki is just one goal off the team lead, which is held by Justin Auger with 21 tallies. The Lakeville, Minnesota, native passed the 40-point plateau with his two-point game on Saturday, his ninth multi-point game this year. 

Mike Condon (ORL) - Projected to make his second ECHL start of the season on Sunday, Condon brings more than 100 games of NHL experience to the Orlando goaltender rotation. He has played in only seven pro games this season, including six with the Syracuse Crunch, the Solar Bears' AHL affiliate. Condon has seen action in 44 career ECHL games and has seven career shutouts. He has posted a record of 26-14-4, a .931 save percentage and a 2.11 goals-against average in the ECHL.

Shorty SurplusThe ‘Blades notched multiple shorthanded goals in a game for the first time since the 2017-18 season on Saturday. Florida last had two shorthanded strikes on Jan. 12, 2018, in a 4-2 win over the Jacksonville Icemen. Florida is now tied for the league lead with its 10 shorthanded goals this season and is 7-1-1-0 when it scores on the penalty kill. 

The Streak Lives OnWith its win on Saturday, Florida matched the second-longest point streak in the ECHL this season, tying Newfoundland's 11-game point streak from Dec. 17-Jan. 15. Only South Carolina's 16-game point streak, which lasted from Nov. 22-Dec. 28, is longer. Florida has victories in 10 of its 11 games in its point streak and has wins in 16 of its last 20 games. 

Defense FirstFlorida's point streak has coincided with some of its best defensive play this season. The 'Blades have yielded more than two goals only once in the last 11 games, which came in the first game of the point streak in a 6-3 win over the Kalamazoo Wings. Florida has permitted less than three goals in 10 straight games and is second in the ECHL in goals allowed per game, yielding just 2.56 goals per contest. 

Next UpFlorida finishes off a stretch of five games in seven days with a Tuesday morning affair against the Atlanta Gladiators at Infinite Energy Arena.  

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The Florida Everblades are the proud ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Nashville Predators and AHL's Milwaukee Admirals