The Orlando Solar Bears can look back on their season-long seven-game road trip proud of what they accomplished, having won five games on the trip. It felt like Orlando had started getting its offense pointed in the right direction through all the call ups and constant change that come with the ECHL.
Still, losing to the division rival Florida Everblades, the first division foe on the road trip, had some sting to it.
Jack Rodewald quickly answered a first period goal with his sixth of the year only to see Florida score three goals and to see Orlando have a goal taken off the board in an important point.
The Everblades continued their dominance over the Solar Bears with a 4-1 win at Germain Arena in Estero, Fla., on Friday.
Late in the second period the Solar Bears appeared to equalize the game on a shot from Mark Louis. But the officials determined Rodewald touched the puck with a high stick disallowing the goal.
Florida scored in the third period from Brant Harris on a turnover behind Rob Madore’s net. The Everblades added one more late in the period to seal the game.
Despite the loss, Orlando still had a lot of success on this long road trip. Getting out of the difficult Southeast Division certainly helped — four of the five teams in the division are in playoff position — but the Solar Bears will have to win these games eventually to make up ground in the ECHL.
Orlando returns to the Amway Center for three games against the Manchester Monarchs on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
