Solar Bears’ rally thwarted in OT

KALAMAZOO 4, ORLANDO 3 (OT)

After Orlando’s Rylan Schwartz scored with 2 seconds left in regulation to tie the score, the Solar Bears lost 4-3 in OT Monday to Kalamazoo to conclude their nine-game homestand.

The Orlando Solar Bears did not win the final game of the longest homestand of their ECHL regular season.

If it were not for a goal by Rylan Schwartz with two seconds left in regulation Monday night, though, it would have been a complete loss.

The Solar Bears (23-22-3-5, 54 points) salvaged a point, falling 4-3 in overtime to the Kalamazoo Wings (25-24-4-1, 55 points) before an announced crowd of 4,661 at Amway Center. Alex Mallet’s second goal of the game, 58 seconds into extra time, lifted Kalamazoo.

Orlando went 4-3-1-1 on its nine-game homestand, a letdown after the Solar Bears began that stretch with three victories. Trying to gain ground in the playoff race, the Solar Bears remained winless in their past four games.

T.J. Foster scored twice for the Solar Bears, giving him 19 this season.

The score was tied at 2 late in the third period until the Wings’ Justin Taylor deposited the puck into the net with 1:24 to go. That appeared to be the game-winner until Schwartz scored a goal off assists from Patrick Watling and Foster.

Solar Bears goalie Rob Madore stopped 33 shots.

Orlando will begin a six-game road trip with three games against the Manchester Monarchs in New Hampshire, starting at 7 Friday night.

The Solar Bears announced defenseman Eric Baier has signed with the Stockton Heat of the American Hockey League and that defenseman Myles Harvey has retired. Baier is Orlando’s captain.