Despite 52 shots, Solar Bears fall 5-3
Despite 52 shots on goal, the Orlando Solar Bears (1-2-0-0, two points) fell short in a 5-3 loss to the Atlanta Gladiators (3-3-1-1, eight points) in front of an announced crowd of 3,918 on Friday night at Amway Center.
Orlando lived in the Atlanta zone for most of the game, possessing the puck well and flinging shot after shot at Gladiators netminder Jay Williams.
The Solar Bears trailed 3-2 entering the third period but tied the score on Ethan Werek’s goal with 15 minutes, 30 seconds to play.
“Our puck possession game was as strong or stronger than I’ve ever seen it,’’ said Anthony Noreen, the Solar Bears’ secondyear head coach. “We did a good job of establishing zone time and denying theirs, but we didn’t take care of the puck.’’
Orlando goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo collected 29 saves.
Solar Bears forward Joe Perry notched his first two goals of the season.
His second goal, assisted by Brett Findlay and Adam Brace, came with 46 seconds left in the second period and closed Orlando’s deficit to one goal.
“A lot of what I did came off hard work from other guys,’’ Perry said. “Finner [Findlay] made a great play on the [first] goal driving to the net. I just picked up the rebound and scored. And then I got lucky with a little bank shot on the second one, and that just comes off that [offensive-]zone pressure.’’
The 52 shots fell four shy of the Solar Bears’ team record, set on March 5, 2015, in a 3-2 shootout victory against the Cincinnati Cyclones.
Williams, who was in training camp with the Solar Bears, made 49 saves.
Tyler Murovich, another former Solar Bear, scored with 4:37 left in the third to give the Gladiators the lead for good.
Derek Nesbitt’s emptynet goal with 1:03 to go completed the scoring.
“It’s good to get shots on net, but it’s a results business, so you have to put it in,’’ Werek said. “Fifty-two shots, and you only put three in. You do a lot of things right obviously, but you have to bear down on your opportunities.’’
The Solar Bears will play the Gladiators again at 7 tonight at Amway Center.