The Orlando Solar Bears hosted the South Carolina Stingrays tonight at Amway Center in Orlando, FL for some hockey in the South Division of the ECHL.  In front of 6,321 fans, the Solar Bears(23-20-6-1) looked to break a 2 game skid that came on the heels of a 4 game win streak. The Stingrays skated in with a record of 28-12-4-1 and #3 in the South while the 23-20-6-1 Solar Bears rank 6th.  

Orlando jumped on the scoreboard first when Brandon Makara knocked in a defection from a Max Balinson shot on goal at the 6:26 mark.  The score would be the only goal in the 1st period.

The score board remained idle until the 10:26 mark when Solar Bears forward Luka Boka found a seam on a wrap around in front of the goal. found a seam for the score.  Stingrays forward Andrew Cherniwchan responded with a goal to cut the Solar Bears lead to 2-1.  Orlando’s Tyler Bird made full use of the 3rd period when he added a goal for his team  with just 56 sec left in 2nd.  Solar Bears lead 3-1 to close out the period.

Orlando got the first goal of the period again when Bennet MacArthur picked up a touch at the 12 minute mark of the third and fully in control with a 4-1 lead.  Down by 3 goals, South Carolina looked for some kind of answer and did get an additional solo goal from Anthony Del Gaizo before the teams skated to a 4-2 final score.

With the win, the Solar Bears move to 24-20-6-1 and likely will move up a spot in their division.  They will play host against Mountain Division opponent Utah Grizzlies(20-24-2-0) on Sunday, February 19 at 3 p.m. at the Amway Center.   In the loss, the Stingrays fall to 28-13-4-1 and will host the Jacksonville Icemen(#1 South Division) on Saturday, February 18 at 6:05 p.m. 

Photo credit: Brianna Russell/FAAZ Sports