Gladiators Drop 4-1 Game to Solar Bears

Looking to avenge their loss on Friday night, the Gladiators returned to action on Sunday afternoon. Atlanta welcomed the Orlando Solar Bears into the Infinite Energy for the second game in a row for their matinee matchup.

The Solar Bears opened the game’s scoring just five minutes in. Nikolas Brouillard blasted in a shot from the point that Atlanta’s netminder, Matt Ginn, never saw with heavy traffic in front. The rookie’s third of the year came on the power play and was assisted by Taylor Doherty and Tony Cameranesi.

Orlando then doubled their first period lead to 2-0 on a strike from Eric Faille. The Solar Bears Assistant Captain used a quick burst of speed to get behind the Atlanta defenders for a breakaway, and then buried a shot between Ginn’s pad. The goal was Faille’s eighth on the season, while Patrick Watling picked up his 11th assist on the play.

Watling returned to the scoresheet and was next to put Orlando on the board, as he found the back of the net 9:42 into the middle frame to put the visitors ahead 3-0. The Ontario native received a pass at the blue line and then skated to the top of the circle before he wristed a shot that hit off the post and in. The power play tally was Watling’s seventh of the year and was assisted by Cameranesi and Faille.

The Solar Bears were not done yet, however, as they increased their lead to 4-0 a minute and a half later. Joe Perry knocked in his team leading 14th goal as he stood wide open in front of the net. Brett Findlay was credited with his 19th helper after he created a turnover in the offensive zone and sent the puck to Perry’s stick.

The Gladiators broke the shutout of Orlando goaltender, Kasimir Kaskisuo 13:06 into the third period. Eric Neiley circled the back of the Solar Bear net and slipped the puck out front to Higgs. The Gladiators Alternate Captain then jammed the puck in past the Finnish goalie and made the score 4-1.

Atlanta could not catch up with the Solar Bears and fell on home ice by a score of 4-1. The loss dropped Atlanta to fifth in the ECHL's South Division with a record of 10-12-2-1 and 23 points. Meanwhile Orlando picked up their second straight win to improve to 14-7-2-0. This kept the Solar Bears in second in the South division with 30 points on the year.