Orlando Solar Bears beat South Carolina Stingrays, 2-1, in shootout

The South Carolina Stingrays played their best defensive game of the season.

It still wasn’t good enough to beat the Orlando Solar Bears.

Kyle Medvec scored two goals, including the game-winner in the eighth round of the shootout, to lead Orlando past South Carolina, 2-1, Tuesday night before a crowd of 1,438 at the North Charleston Coliseum.

The Stingrays, who are winless in their last three games, fell to 3-4-1 (7 points) on the season. The Solar Bears, who lead the ECHL’s South Division, improved to 4-1-2 (10 points).

No team had given up more shots on goal this season than the Stingrays coming into Tuesday’s game. The Stingrays were giving up nearly 40 shots a game, but limited the Solar Bears, the league’s top offensive team, to just 30, which was eight below the Solar Bears’ season average.

“I thought we were much better defensively,” said Stingrays head coach Spencer Carbery. “Our structure was better than it has been and we were much better in our defensive zone. We didn’t allow a lot of scoring chances and that’s not an easy thing to do against a team as talented as Orlando.”

South Carolina rookie goalie Adam Morrison turned in his most impressive performance of the season, stopping 31 of 32 shots he faced and six of eight in the shootout.

“Adam was outstanding tonight. He made some huge saves, especially in the second period, to keep us in the game,” Carbery said. “He deserved a better fate than the one he got.”

Despite an improved defensive effort, Carbery wasn’t pleased overall with the Stingrays’ effort.

“I thought our compete level was very average, especially in the first and second periods,” Carbery said. “It wasn’t nearly where it needed to be. I think we played better in the third period and played with a sense of urgency, but you can’t play good for 20 minutes and expect to beat a team as good as Orlando.”

Medvec gave the Solar Bears a 1-0 lead when he redirected a Olivier Fortier shot from the point midway through the opening period.

After a scoreless second period, the Stingrays tied the game on Mike Hamilton’s power-play goal with 72 seconds left in regulation.

“I thought our power play created a lot of scoring chances most of the night,” Carbery said. “It was a big goal from Mike to get us that point.”

Orlando 1 0 0 0 1 — 2

Stingrays 0 0 1 0 0 — 1

First Period: 1. O, Medvec 3 (Fortier, Ginand), 10:58. Penalties: Severyn, O (boarding), 1:12; Turek, SC (holding), 4:38; Bishop, SC (interference on the goalkeeper), 7:09; Ginand, O (holding), 13:15; Wilson, O (cross-checking), 15:21.

Second Period: No goals. Penalties: Cherniwchan, SC (hooking), 17:38.

Third Period: 2. SC, Hamilton 4 (Cross, Turek), 18:48. Penalties: Sisca, O (tripping), 1:51; Medvec, O (roughing), 5:19; Clarke, SC (double—roughing), 5:19; Lampman, O (tripping), 11:52; Cherniwchan, SC (charging), 14:51; Sisca Orl (hooking), 18:16. Overtime: No Goals. Penalties-No Penalties.

Shootout: 3. O, Medvec (unassistsed). Shots on Goal: Stingrays 13-4-10-4-0-31; Orlando: 9-13-10-0-1-33. Penalties: Stingrays 6-12; Orlando 7-14. Power Play: Stingrays 1 for 6; Orlando 0 for 5. Goalies: Stingrays – Adam Morrison (1-3-1) 32 shots, 31 saves. Orlando – John Curry (3-1-1) 31 shots, 30 saves. Att: 1,438.