Bridgeport's comeback bid falls short to Bears
March 29, 2015 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Alan Quine recorded a goal and an assist, but the Bridgeport Sound Tigers fell to the Hershey Bears on Sunday afternoon at Webster Bank Arena.
The game started out with a quick pace, with both squads getting excellent scoring chances. The best early chance came when Hershey's Dmitry Orlov fired a shot that Sound Tigers goaltender Kevin Poulin had trouble absorbing. The puck nearly trickled through, but Poulin was able to fall on it at the last minute.
The Bears had a tremendous opportunity early in the game, as Bridgeport's Sebastian Collberg was given a five-minute major for boarding. Hershey took advantage of the chance, as Stanislav Galiev fired home a one-time slapshot off of a tremendous feed from Andre Burakovsky. The goal was Galiev's 24th of the season.
Burakovsky doubled the Bears' lead with a wicked wrist shot from the high slot with just over a minute remaining on the penalty. The tally was Burakovsky's third of the season.
Bridgeport's Johan Sundstrom had an excellent chance to cut the lead in half with just over six minutes remaining in the period. He rifled a shot on Hershey goaltender Pheonix Copley from in close and knocked the resulting rebound out of the air and on goal. Copley was able to get just enough of it, however, keeping the Sound Tigers scoreless.
The Bears almost scored again at the beginning of the period, as a 2-on-1 developed from an expiring Sound Tigers power play. However, Poulin was able to make an incredible stretching save, keeping what appeared to be a sure goal from occurring.
Quine cut the Bears' lead in half off of a nifty deflection. Bridgeport defenseman Scott Mayfield fired a laser from the blue line, which Quine got his stick on for his 20th goal of the season.
Things seemed to be going in the right direction for the Sound Tigers after the goal, but a costly pair of penalties by Bridgeport gave the Bears a 5-on-3 advantage. Casey Wellman cashed in on the opportunity, firing a shot through Poulin's five-hole for his 22nd goal of the season. This halted the Sound Tigers' momentum, allowing the Bears to control the pace of play for some time.
The Sound Tigers got a chance to reduce the lead while on the power play early in the third period and did not squander it. Ryan Pulock fired a rocket from the blue line, beating Copley on his low glove side. The goal was Pulock's 15th of the season, and allowed the Sound Tigers to command the pace of play.
Bridgeport capitalized on their zone time, tying the game at three shortly after. A save by Copley on Colton Gillies brought the puck onto Kael Mouillierat's stick, giving him an open net to shoot at. The puck hit Copley's back as he tried to get back into position, deflecting into the mesh before he could stop it. The goal was Mouillierat's 20th of the season.
The Sound Tigers nearly scored again with around eight minutes left in the third period, but were unable finish a number of opportunities.
The Bears retook the lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game. A 3-on-1 developed off of a Bridgeport turnover, and a bang-bang passing play from Dustin Gazley to Jim O'Brien allowed the latter to tap the puck in for his eighth goal of the season.
The Sound Tigers pulled Poulin in order to get an extra skater onto the ice, but were unable to best Copley, coming just short in their comeback bid.
Poulin made 18 saves in the losing effort and Copley made 31 saves for the win.
The Sound Tigers return to action on Wednesday, April 1, when they take on the Springfield Falcons. Puck drop is set for 11:00 a.m.
Notes: The teams combined to score four power play goals...Despite the last meeting being a fight-filled affair, neither team was issued a fighting major this game...Quine has seven points in his last four games...Pulock has 15 goals, good for 6th most for defensemen in the AHL.
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