Every point, every game matters for the Orlando Solar Bears as they try to chase the final playoff spot. There is no time to waste and a loss Thursday in the first of a three-game set was something of a wakeup call.
That prompted a players-only meeting before the big #PackTheDen game Saturday and some inspired, physical play with glowing words from the coach following a big win. Coach Anthony Noreen left a challenge for his team though following that game. It is easy to play that way once, doing it again would be the difficult part.
And there would be pain and physicality but the reward would be worth it.
The Solar Bears have struggled with that carryover. But there was no struggle Sunday in a 5-3 win over the Adirondack Thunder and get a series win.
Rylan Schwartz, Brady Vail and Rory Rawlyk scored in the first period, erasing a 1-0 deficit for Orlando. Rookie Chris Bradley scored 34 seconds into the second period for a 4-1 lead and a second straight dominant performance from the Solar Bears over the Thunder.
“What I loved about the first period was I thought they had the momentum early [and] they scored first and I thought the switch went on for us,” Noreen told Don Money of Pro HOckey News. “I thought we took over the first period from that point on and obviously score three right away which was huge.”
The Solar Bears had the right attitude the last two games and faced the deficit and blew past it quickly. They continued their dominating physical play.
The bad blood between Adirondack and Orlando carried over from Saturday with 16 penalties in Sunday’s game. That can disrupt any game. But like Saturday the Solar Bears were ready to be physical and meet the challenge.
The Solar Bears had only two power plays, converting on one, and gave up just 1 for 5 on the power play. Orlando had to rely heavily on its defense and its goaltending to hold on for the win.
Ryan Massa started his second straight game after a fiery end to Saturday’s game and made 37 saves on 40 shots.
Orlando is still four points behind Elmira for fourth place, but moved ahead of Atlanta into ninth place. And the Solar Bears have games in hand to make up that short distance.
The pressure does not ramp down for the Solar Bears. Every game will be important the rest of the way in.
