By: Jayson Shaya, Bridgeport Islanders
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, PA. – Saturday night marked the first of two straight games against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, with the first contest on the road for the Bridgeport Islanders. During the contest, despite being up by a pair of goals in the first period, the Isles couldn’t hang on and ended up losing the contest to the Pens, 4-3.
During the opening period, Adam Beckman put Bridgeport up 1-0 on his 19th of the year from Cole McWard and Travis Mitchell at 6:06. Julien Gauthier scored to make it 2-0 at 7:55 for his 5th of the season as he stood at the crease and swatted home a rebound past goalie Joel Blomqvist. At 17:26, the Pens got on the board after a goal from Filip Hollander beat goalie Jeremy Smith, bringing the game to a 2-1 score. Wilkes-Barre tied the game at 19:29 after Atley Calvert scored on a wrist shot, ending the period with a tied contest, 2-2.
During the second period, the Pens took the lead after a shot deflected perfectly to Sebastian Aho at 16:16 for a goal that made it 3-2.
Later in the third, a goal at 9:02 by the Pens, Ville Koivunen, extended the Isles’ deficit to 4-2. Liam Foudy scored a shorthanded breakaway goal at 13:11 for his 19th of the season brought Bridgeport back within a goal in a 4-3. But the game ended with Bridgeport taking the loss and heading home to play the Penguins in an afternoon rematch.
The Isles will battle the Penguins again tomorrow at 3:00 PM at Total Mortgage Arena. Great seats are still available. Please visit www.bridgeportislanders.com for more information.
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By: Jayson Shaya, Bridgeport Islanders
Springfield, Mass. – Heading into a weekend against Atlantic Division opponents, the Bridgeport Islanders realized there were important points on the line in the standings. On Friday night, against the Springfield Thunderbirds, they battled against a team nipping at their heels in a race for a playoff spot. With the game tied after regulation and overtime, it went to a shootout, where the Thunderbirds scored the only goal in three rounds, and the Isles took a point in the 5-4 loss.
During the opening period, the Thunderbirds scored first at 14:54 when Thomas Bordeleau beat Marcus Hogberg, putting the Isles down 1-0. The Thunderbirds added a power-play goal at 16:10 after Aleksanteri Kaskimaki scored to make it 2-0. Julien Gauthier capitalized on a Springfield turnover to slice the deficit in half during a power play. Gauthier scored his 4th of the season, and the game was 2-1 after 20 minutes.
In the middle frame, Springfield went up 3-1 after Aleksantari Kaskamaki scored at 6:53, pouncing on a neutral zone turnover by Bridgeport.
During the final period, Hunter Drew cut the game to a 3-2 deficit at 5:02 after taking the perfect pass from CJ Smith. It was Drew’s 13th goal of the season. Liam Foudy tied the game as his wrist shot beat goalie Vadim Zherenko at 8:42 for his 18th of the season, bringing the game to a 3-3 score. Pierrick Dube scored at 11:31 to bring the game to a 4-3 score on his second of the season. Hugh McGing tied the game at 14:28, putting home a rebound, bringing the contest to a 4-4 score.
During overtime, no one scored, and in the shootout, Thomas Bordeleau scored the only goal, giving the team a 5-4 win.
ISLANDERS OUTLAST COMETS ON TUESDAY, 2-1
By: Jayson Shaya, Bridgeport Islanders
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. – Hosting the Utica Comets for a Tuesday night tilt at Total Mortgage Arena, the Bridgeport Islanders skated away with a crucial two points thanks to a third-period goal from Matthew Highmore, which cemented their 2-1 victory.
The win gives the Islanders sole possession of fifth place in the Atlantic Division and moves them two points ahead of the Hershey Bears for fourth place.
No goals were recorded for either team in the first period, but the Islanders peppered Jakub Malek with 17 shots on goal in the opening twenty minutes of play.
Matthew Maggio wasted little time in the second period, breaking the ice 2:41 into the middle frame after picking up a loose puck forced away by Pierrick Dube and beating Malek over his shoulder.
Just 91 seconds into the third period, the Comets tied the contest as Marc McLaughlin recovered a rebound in the slot and netted it for his second goal in as many games this season.
The Islanders responded 13:29 into the third period as the streaking Alex Jefferies found Highmore in front of the Utica net, who tapped home his eighth of the season and gave Bridgeport a 2-0 lead.
The Islanders embark on a three-game weekend, heading to Springfield on Feb. 20 for a 7:05 p.m. puck drop, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Feb. 21 at 6:05 p.m., and then welcoming the Penguins to Total Mortgage Arena on Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. Tickets are available on https://www.bridgeportislanders.com/.
Notes
The Islanders improve to 6-4-0-1 against North Division opponents this season.
Highmore’s goal was his third in his last two games, the most he has had in consecutive games this season.
Bridgeport is 6-3-0-0 when Maggio records a goal and has won four consecutive when its 23-year-old center lights the lamp.
The Islanders are 6-1-0-0 when Ethan Bear records a point. He tallied two assists in this evening’s contest and now has five points in as many games against the Comets in his career.
The Islanders’ 17 shots in the first period are the second-most that they have recorded in a period this season.
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