Curry, Medvec Lift Solar Bears To Shootout Win

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC — Eight rounds of shootout action were needed to decide the winner, but the Solar Bears topped the Stingrays 2-1 in a shootout at the North Charleston Coliseum on Tuesday Night.

Orlando struck for the lone first period goal halfway through the frame. F Olivier Fortier fired a slap shot from just inside the blue line and found D Kyle Medvec crashing the front of the net for the redirection. Orlando took the 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

After neither side scored in the second, the Stingrays were able to force overtime with a late third period goal. While on the power play, C Mike Hamilton snapped a shot that found its way through a maze of legs into the net with just 1:12 remaining in regulation. Neither side was able to score in overtime, sending the contest into a shootout.

C Mathew Sisca had his third round goal matched by South Carolina F Andrew Cherniwchan in the fourth round, and F Olivier Fortier was able to extend the shootout after Stingrays F Tyler McNeely started the sixth round off with a goal. In the eighth round, Medvec lifted a backhand shot past Stingrays goaltender Adam Morrison to secure a 2-1 shootout win for Orlando. Solar Bears G John Curry stopped 30 of the 31 shots he faced in regulation and six of the eight shootout opportunities.

Three Stars: 1. K. Medvec (ORL); 2. M. Hamilton (SC); 3. J. Curry (ORL)

Power Plays: ORL: 0/5; SC: 0/6

Shots: ORL: 33; SC: 31

Notes:

C Ryan Cruthers, LW Nick Petersen, and C Mat Sisca all had their six-game point streaks snapped. It was the first game for all three players that they did not register a point this season... The Solar Bears are now 2-1 in shootouts this year... G John Curry has given up just three goals in 20 shootout attempts he has faced... Orlando has played back-to-back games that have gone to a shootout, and four of their seven games this season have needed extra time to decide a winner.

WFTV