Solar Bears prevail 2-1 for 1st victory
The Orlando Solar Bears got goals from Brett Findlay and Patrick Watling in the third period and rallied to beat the South Carolina Stingrays 2-1 for their first ECHL victory this season.
Patrick Watling was in the right place to help the Orlando Solar Bears earn their first victory of the ECHL season Thursday night.
Watling netted the decisive goal, putting in a deflection off South Carolina goalie Parker Milner with 6 minutes, 32 seconds to go, as the Solar Bears (1-1-0-0, two points) knocked off the Stingrays (0-2-1-0, one point) 2-1 at Amway Center. The game drew an announced crowd of 4,114.
Ethan Werek and Eric Faille assisted on Watling’s goal. Werek took a shot from above the right circle that Milner stopped but could not control. Watling took advantage.
“The goalie couldn’t see much, so when it popped out, he had no idea,” Watling said. “My eyes lit up, I [couldn’t] believe it and I just put it right in.”
The Solar Bears scored both of their goals in the third period. Brett Findlay’s power-play goal tied the score 4:11 into the frame. Werek and Adam Brace were credited with assists.
“What we did in the third period was possessing the puck, not forcing shots, wearing them down and then shooting the puck,” Solar Bears coach Anthony Noreen said.
Orlando goalie Ryan Massa made three key saves in the third period: a oneon-one save against Olivier Archambault, a three-onone Stingrays attack and finally another one-on-one by Domenic Monardo.
Massa finished with 23 saves.
The Stingrays took a 1-0 lead at 9:51 of the second period on Archambault’s power-play goal. It was his first goal this season.
Archambault was an ECHL all-star as a rookie for the Alaska Aces during the 2014-15 season when he totaled 38 points.
Orlando held a 15-5 advantage in shots in the third period and outshot South Carolina 29-24 overall.
The Solar Bears finished 1-for-6 on the power play. The Stingrays converted on one of their three opportunities with a man advantage.
The Solar Bears will host the Atlanta Gladiators at 7 tonight and Saturday night at Amway Center.