Orlando wipes away deficit before falling

With the Orlando Solar Bears trailing 6-5 in the third period, Austin Block appeared to poke the puck into the back of the net.

The crowd went wild, and Block smiled. The score was tied. And then it wasn’t. Block’s goal was disallowed as officials determined he kicked the puck. The Solar Bears (28-20-6-3, 65 points) lost 7-5 to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits (32-20-4-1, 69 points) in front of an announced crowd of 4,194 at Amway Center on Thursday night.

The Solar Bears trailed 4-1 after the first period, and many fans went home early as groans echoed throughout the arena.

“The start was obviously frustrating,” assistant coach John Snowden said. “We didn’t come out with any jam and we didn’t get in our structure, but we clawed back into it. That’s what you have to look for. You have to take a positive out of it.”

Snowden replaced head coach Drake Berehowsky for the third game in a row. Berehowsky is recuperating after an undisclosed medical situation last week.

Orlando rallied, and Eric Faille’s goal 3 minutes, 18 seconds into the third period tied the score at 5. Greenville reclaimed the lead on Ahti Oksanen’s goal about five minutes later.

Milos Bubela and Faille each collected three points for Orlando, with Bubela scoring twice and Faille assisting twice. Joe Perry and Brenden Miller added a goal apiece.

“It’s always tough if you’re down at first,” Bubela said. “There’s not much to do from there . ... The bad start cost us the game.”

Kasimir Kaskisuo made 26 saves.

Orlando fell four points behind Greenville and remained in third place in the ECHL’s South Division. The Solar Bears are one point ahead of the Cincinnati Cyclones and two in front of the South Carolina Stingrays in the division.

The top four teams from each division will make the playoffs. The Solar Bears have 15 regular-season games left. They will host the Swamp Rabbits at 7 Saturday night.