The Orlando Solar Bears’ playoff chase required getting two points at just about every opportunity. Every game was a must-win and there was no time to lose. There is no game that is not important.
And no game the rest of the way that will be easy facing Southeast Division stalwarts like the South Carolina Stingrays. There is no time to relax for sure.
When the Solar Bears tied the game early in the third period from a score by Rylan Schwartz, the push had to become greater than it already was. Orlando was the more aggressive team with 31 shots on goal and a 20-14 advantage through two periods. There was no lack of trying.
Like has been the issue all year, the Solar Bears could not convert those shots into goals all the time. The Stingrays had the last push they needed.
Patrick Gaul netted the game-winning goal midway through the third period and goalie Mark Dekanich stood tall the rest of the way as South Carolina won 2-1 at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday night.
The Solar Bears have now lost four straight games, with just one point in that span. It has caused Orlando to slip five points behind the Elmira Jackals for the final playoff spot, but also behind the Atlanta Gladiators and the suddenly streaking Kalamazoo Wings. The Playoffs, in other words, are looking dimmer and dimmer with each passing loss.
Orlando, if the team was not already, is very much on life support.
The Solar Bears continue to pile up their chances and fail to strike. They missed out on all five power play opportunities in the game and they had several strong scoring opportunities that they could not put through.
Credit goes to Dekanich, who made 30 saves in the game. Orlando just could not crack him.
That has been the problem all year as Orlando has faced the division-leading South Carolina team all year. The Solar Bears have taken just three points in seven meetings so far. There is just one more to go.
South Carolina has dominated this series throughout the series. And these are the series Orlando had to win to make this late-season Playoff push. The Solar Bears have struggled all year to scratch out those last moments of brilliance to score.
Now it seems Orlando is hitting a swoon at the worst moment of the season, dimming the future beyond next week.
