The Orlando Solar Bears got their chances but could not find the back of the net. And the Greenville Swamp Rabbits took advantage with some opportune goals.
There have been times in this season where the Orlando Solar Bears play well, get chances and cannot get the puck behind the goalkeeper. There are times when the defense does everything decently well and the puck just trickles past the goalie.
That is hockey in many ways. The puck bounces odd or over your stick or the goalie gets hot.
The Greenville Swamp Rabbits got all the breaks and found itself in the right spots to score at the right time on its way to a 6-2 win over the Orlando Solar Bears at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C.
Greenville scored the first four goals of the game, opening the scoring with a shorthanded goal 7:31 into the game on a goal from Rob Kwiet. The Solar Bears trailed by two at the end of the first period.
It appeared the Solar Bears were building some positive momentum in the second period. Orlando was getting shots and staying even in the game. The team was just not getting them in the back of the net.
Luck also did not participate. On the second goal, Michael St. Croix’s first of two on the night, Ryan Massa appeared to have the puck saved but he kicked it into the net behind him as he adjusted to search for the puck.
Those are the breaks sometimes.
So too is seeing Bretton Cameron scoring 11 seconds into the third period and making it a 4-0 game and ending about any chance for the Solar Bears to make a comeback.
So too is running into a hot goalie.
Jeff Malcolm made 30 saves on 32 Solar Bears shots so even when they had good opportunities, they just could not get them past that little red line.
Orlando had five power play opportunities and missed them all, as the team’s recent power play struggles continued after the team peaked out as the top team in the league a few weeks ago.
T.J. Foster finally broke through for the Solar Bears midway through the third period, scoring twice, but each time bringing the deficit to three. Greenville quickly moved to push it back to four.
Orlando got decent opportunities and seemed to get the pressure the team wanted (at least by the radio broadcast). But the puck would not find the back of the net.
Ultimately that was the difference in the game. The Solar Bears are still trying to take advantage of the opportunities when they present themselves.
