ORLANDO, Fla. — A crowd of 7,868 people saw the Solar Bears notch two second period goals and hold of the Florida Everblades in the third to win 2-1 at the Amway Center on Thursday night.
After neither side was able to strike in the first period, the Solar Bears took a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal in the second stanza. RW Dan Gendur forced a puck loose on the left side of the neutral zone, and whipped a wrist shot over the shoulder of Florida G John Muse with 9:57 remaining in the period. A little under three minutes later, Solar Bears G John Curry turned aside a point blank Everblades opportunity and F Micheal Neal made a one-handed pass to spring F Scott Tanski up the right side. Tanksi made no mistake with his chance, slipping a shot between the left post and crossbar to push the lead to 2-0.
The game's second shorthanded goal cut Orlando's lead to 2-1. A pass from F Aaron Bogosian was blocked by D Derick Martin, but Bogosian stuck with the play, recovered the loose puck and deposited it behind Curry with 12:52 left to play. Orlando and Curry would shut down the Everblades following that goal, with Curry making 12 saves on 13 shots in the final frame for the 2-1 Solar Bears victory.
Three Stars: 1. S. Tanksi (ORL); 2. J. Curry (ORL); 3. D. Gendur (ORL)
Power Plays: ORL: 0/5; FLA: 0/4
Shots: ORL: 32; FLA: 29
Notes:
D Josh Caron returned to the Solar Bears line up tonight... Orlando has now won two straight games and three of their last four, all against the Everblades... Orlando played their first home game since December 9 tonight, a stretch of six games and 18 days... G John Curry has surrendered just one goal in each of his last three starts. He is now 4-1-1-0 against Florida this season... The Solar Bears improved to 9-0-0-1 when leading after the second period.