The Orlando Solar Bears got outmuscled and defeated in Fort Wayne to end its win streak. The Solar Bears failed to get much going offensively and succumbed to the pressure of the constant barrage of shots.
Early in the Solar Bears’ game against the Indy Fuel they set the tone. They were not going back to that passive style.
The Solar Bears took two fighting penalties in the first five minutes of the game and then broke through for the first score in a 2-0 win at Indiana Farmers Coliseum on Saturday.
T.J. Foster got on the board first with an unassisted goal midway through the first period. Johnny McInnis doubled up the lead midway through the second period after he cut to the slot on a drop pass from Erik Bradford.
It was the kind of offense missing from Orlando’s loss Friday and for much of the season. The Solar Bears got back to their winning ways that helped them build a win streak of five in the last seven games.
Rookie Ryan Massa recorded his second shutout of his career, making 38 saves as Orlando again faced a barrage of shots, a common theme throughout the season.
It became especially dire in the third period when Orlando’s physicality played against it. The Solar Bears conceded four penalties, including back-to-back penalties from Mark Louis (literally coming out of the box and 30 seconds later committed a second penalty).
The Fuel had an 18-4 shot advantage in the third period. But they could not get Massa.
Orlando had the better opportunities throughout the game and that helped the team push ahead. A little bit of physicality and push back never hurt anyone.
And the Solar Bears showed Friday was not who this team would return to.
