Solar Bears beaten 5-2 by Kalamazoo
David Gilbert scored three goals for the Kalamazoo Wings in their 5-2 ECHL victory Friday against the Orlando Solar Bears at Amway Center in front of an announced crowd of 5,721.
The Orlando Solar Bears allowed two goals in the first 3 minutes, 37 seconds of their ECHL game against the Kalamazoo Wings on Friday night.
Forced to rally early, the Solar Bears (23-21-2-5, 53 points) could not recover in a 5-2 loss to the Wings (23-24-4-1, 51 points) in front of an announced crowd of 5,721 at Amway Center.
David Gilbert scored on the first shot attempt by the Wings and finished with a hat trick.
“Their first shot goes in the net, and that obviously can’t happen,” Solar Bears coach Anthony Noreen said. “We left the puck out front of the goal in the second one, and then it was 2-0, and you go from what could have been a pretty good start to chasing two goals.
“Teams are just too good in this league.”
The Solar Bears, who had earned points in seven of their past eight games, squandered a chance to tighten the ECHL’s Eastern Conference playoff race. They are 11th in the 14-team conference but are only four points behind the Wheeling Nailers, who currently hold the eighth and final postseason berth.
Orlando has 21 regular-season games remaining.
Ludwig Blomstrand followed Gilbert’s early goal with a score to give the Wings a 2-0 lead.
Gilbert scored his 13th and 14th goals of the season in the second period, which earned him firststar honors. Orlando scored twice in the second on Eric Faille’s team-leading 20th of the season and Patrick Watling’s first since Oct. 31, a game in which he sustained an injury. Watling returned Feb. 17.
“It was a long time waiting, and it ’s just good to get that monkey off my back,” Watling said. “It’s my fourth game back, and today I felt more like myself. To be honest, I had that jolt back. I just have to keep the pedal down and keep going from here.”
Faille’s goal came on a power play.
Four Solar Bears were credited with assists, including Faille and Watling.
Solar Bears goalie Rob Madore saved 28 of 32 shots before being replaced by Ryan Massa. Orlando took 30 shots, 16 fewer than Kalamazoo attempted.
The teams will meet at 8 tonight — the game will be broadcast by WKMG-Ch. 6 — and at 7 Monday night, completing the Solar Bears’ nine-game homestand.