Hockey

Solar Bears earn point in shootout loss in Gwinnett

By This is a press release from the Orlando Solar Bears
By This is a press release from the Orlando Solar Bears

DULUTH, Ga. — After surrendering two goals in the first 1:29 of the third period, the Solar Bears fought back to earn a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Gwinnett Gladiators at the Arena at Gwinnett Center on Wednesday night. F Jacob Lagace notched his first goal as a Solar Bear to tie the game just before the halfway point of the third period.

The Gladiators drew first blood in the game, grabbing a 1-0 lead 6:07 into the game. F Maxime Legault found F Josh Currie open on the left side and he fired a shot over the glove of G Christopher Gibson to take the lead. The Solar Bears answered back when F Mathew Sisca fed a pass to F Zach Harrison and he picked the top right corner to even the score at 1-1 heading into the second period.

After a scoreless second frame, the Gladiators jumped out to a lead at the start of the third. Legault notched a power play goal at 1:23 of the period, and off the ensuing faceoff F Philippe Halley took a pass from F Jeremy Malouin to put Gwinnett up 3-1 just six seconds later. Orlando cut the lead in half when forward C.J. Severyn deflected a shot from the blue line at 5:54, and Orlando evened the score up at 3-3 on a goalmouth scramble that ended when Lagace forced the puck over the line at 8:50.

Neither side scored in overtime, resulting in a 3-3 score heading into a shootout. Sisca scored in the third for Orlando, but F Evan Bloodoff answered for Gwinnett in the fifth and final round to force sudden death shootout rounds. Reigning ECHL Defenseman of the Year Sacha Guimond scored on a backhander in the seventh round to lift the Gladiators to a 4-3 shootout victory.

Three Stars: 1. J. Currie (GWT); 2. M. Legault (GWT); 3. C. Severyn (ORL)
Power Plays: ORL: 0/3; GWT: 1/3
Shots: ORL: 35; GWT: 26

Notes:
F Mathew Sisca is one point away from his 50th point as a Solar Bear... F Zach Harrison's first period goal extended his goal streak to three games and point streak to four games (4g,1a)... Orlando earned their first point on the road this season... Orlando went to extra time and a shootout each for the first time this season... Forward C.J. Severyn extended his point streak to five games (2g,6a).

WFTV

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