The Orlando Solar Bears (9-6-1-3), proud affiliate of the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs and AHL's Toronto Marlies, rode Ryan Massa's 28-save performance to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Atlanta Gladiators (10-8-1-0) in front of 6,072 on Saturday night at the Amway Center.
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period, with Solar Bears goaltender Ryan Massa making nine saves while Atlanta's Matt Ginn turned aside seven Orlando opportunities.
The Solar Bears broke through in the second period when Christopher Clapperton broke in down the right wing and fired a shot over the glove of Ginn at 9:09 to set off the team's fourth annual Teddy Bear Toss, presented by Tijuana Flats.
11 seconds after play eventually resumed, Jack Rodewald forced a turnover behind the Atlanta net and fed the puck out to the right side for Ryan Rupert, who buried the shot into an open net.
In the third period, Rupert was awarded a penalty shot at 2:00 when he was hauled down on his way to the net, and converted on the opportunity when he faked Ginn out and cut to the left and beat Ginn stick side.
Eric Faille capped the scoring for Orlando at 7:59 after taking a pass from Clapperton and beating Ginn beneath the blocker.
Massa stopped all 11 shots he faced from Atlanta in the third to preserve his first professional shutout and take the win for Orlando; Ginn received the loss with 23 saves on 27 shots.
NOTES
- In addition to Massa's shutout performance for Orlando, Rob Madore earned the victory for the Toronto Marlies with a 23-of-24 effort in the Marlies' 3-1 win over the Manitoba Moose, while former Solar Bears netminder Garret Sparks earned his second win of the season with the Maple Leafs, stopping 27 of 28 shots for Toronto's 4-1 win over the St. Louis Blues. All three goaltenders received First Star honors tonight.
WFTV
