A shutout performance from Ryan Massa proved to be too much for the Gladiators offense as Atlanta fell to the Orlando Solar Bears by a score of 4-0 at the Amway Center on Wednesday night.
Orlando would open the scoring 13:36 into the opening frame. Eric Faille controlled the puck in the offensive zone and found Joe Perry open at the back post. The third-year pro then tapped in his team leading 27th goal to put the home quad ahead 1-0.
The Solar Bears then doubled their lead with a shorthanded tally less than two minutes into the second period. Darik Angeli carried the puck into the Atlanta zone on a breakaway and sent a quick shot through the five-hole of Atlanta goalie, Dan Vladar. The Ohio State University product’s 12th of the year was assisted by Brenden Miller and Chad LaRose, and put Orlando ahead 2-0.
At the 12:53 mark ok the middle stanza, Alex Gacek netted his 21st goal of the season to give the home team a 3-0 lead. After a turnover gave the Massachusetts native the puck in his offensive zone, Gacek cut around a defender and lifted a shot into the net for the unassisted tally.
The home team added one more insurance goal 6:38 into the final period. Daniel Maggio brought the puck into the Gladiator third for Orlando and delivered a head-man pass to Faille, who then turned to the low slot and backhanded a shot through the five hole of Matt Ginn, who came into the game in relief for Vladar.
Even after outshooting the Solar Bears heavily in the third, Atlanta was unable to get anything past Ryan Massa who who earned his first shutout of the year refuting the Glads' attack. The loss dropped Atlanta to 20-25-6-1 on the season and kept the Gladiators in sixth in the South Division with 47 points. Meanwhile, Orlando improved to 27-18-6-3 and jumped into second in the division with 63 points.
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