Solar Bears rally for 3-2 overtime win over Atlanta, extend win streak to four games

The Orlando Solar Bears picked an opportune time to match their longest winning streak of the season, though they might have preferred to do with a little less stress.

Then again, resiliency is a trait that easily could come into play when the ECHL playoffs begin next week.

“The trust is building in that room,” coach Drake Berehowsky said after Thursday night’s 3-2 overtime victory over the Atlanta Gladiators. “If you play the right way, you give yourselves a better chance to win.”

Colby McAuley’s goal with 27 seconds left in overtime lifted the Solar Bears to their fourth straight triumph – the second time during the streak that Orlando has snatched back victory after finding itself in an early two-goal deficit.

“The guys battled hard,” Berehowsky said. “We had a couple of bad bounces early that went in, but it didn’t deflate us and we went on to win. I think the guys are learning the right way to win games.”

The streak began with a 3-2 victory last Saturday at South Carolina, in which the Solar Bears entered the final period down 2-0 before erupting for all three of their goals.

“Obviously everyone’s confidence is high right now,” said McAuley, who tallied his 14th goal of the season after finding ample room down the middle in the 3-on-3 overtime session.

Chris LeBlanc got the Solar Bears started with a power-play goal shortly before the second intermission, and Alexander Kuqali tied it just 2:03 into the third with only his second goal of the season.

Goaltender Connor Ingram turned away 15 Atlanta shots in the final two periods and overtime, after giving up two goals in the opening stanza. The Solar Bears are 8-4 in overtime games this season, winning four of five at home.

“It took us a little bit to wake up,” McAuley said, “but for us to come back, it shows the resiliency of the group.”

Sean Bonar, a standout for the Solar Bears four years ago, stopped 35 Orlando shots but wound up with the loss. The Solar Bears could have ended it earlier, but Bonar made a pair of kick saves on shots by McAuley and Cody Donaghey.

Orlando’s other four-game win streak came at the end of February, including a pair over the Florida Everblades.

The Solar Bears (40-35-4-1) are assured of second place behind Florida in the South Division and home ice in the opening playoff round. They will open the postseason April 10 at Amway Center, though the opponent remains unsettled between either Atlanta or Jacksonville.

“We want to stay on this hot horse,” LeBlanc said. “We don’t want to have a lull going into the playoffs. Let’s keep things on a roll.”

Things didn’t start out so well for Orlando Thursday, falling behind 2-0 after one period as Bonar stopped 13 Orlando shots. Nolan LaPorte put Atlanta in front with a power-play goal at 11:40 of the period, and Brett McKenzie doubled the tally less than four minutes later.

The Gladiators had a chance to extend the lead midway through the second period, but couldn’t convert 67 seconds of a 5-on-3 power play. The Solar Bears also killed off the second penalty, then saw Bonar deny them twice on shots from newly signed Parker Aucoin and McAuley.

“It wasn’t the start we wanted,” McAuley said, “but we came back as a team.”

The shutout extended to just over 38 minutes before LeBlanc’s power-play goal broke the hex. With Joel Messner in the box for tripping, LeBlanc pounced on the rebound of Alexei Lipanov’s shot and put it past Bonar.

“That was big for momentum,” Kuqali said. “Maybe it took a little wind out of their sails.”

Kuqali got the payoff to start the third period, taking a backhand pass from Mitch Hults and swooping in from the left wing to fire a shot over Bonar’s shoulder.

“I figured why not,” said Kuqali, who came to Orlando from the Fort Wayne Komets in a Jan. 29 trade. “I’ve got momentum; I’ll call for it. They don’t always go in, but it’s nice when they do.”

Aucoin was making his Solar Bears debut after being signed by the club from juniors on Wednesday. The 20-year-old forward spent the season with Tri-Cities of the Western Hockey League, where he scored 42 goals in 68 games during the regular season.