Bridgeport guides 39 shots on goal, but can't solve Harri Sateri
March 30, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (33-27-5-3), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, guided 39 shots at goaltender Harri Sateri on Friday, but couldn't solve the Finnish netminder in a 5-0 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds (29-33-5-2) at MassMutual Center.
It was Sateri's (10-7-3) third shutout of the season and the fifth time Bridgeport has been blanked in 2017-18. On the offensive side, former Sound Tiger Anthony Greco scored twice and Bobby Farnham had three points (one goal, two assists) as Springfield took the 10-game season series 6-4-0-0.
With the setback, Bridgeport fell eight points behind the fourth-place Charlotte Checkers for a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. Charlotte earned one point a 4-3 overtime loss to the Rochester Americans this evening, but the Sound Tigers still have one game in hand. Bridgeport has eight games left in the regular season. It's elimination number is "eight."
A chippy first period included eight combined penalties and a shorthanded goal for Farnham, which set the tone at the 11:21 mark. With Josh Brown in the box for high sticking, the Sound Tigers failed to convert on a number of opportunities before Chase Balisy gathered the puck and sprung Farnham the other way. The Thunderbirds forward gained possession through center and skated down the right wing before launching a wrist shot inside the left post, past Gudlevskis' blocker. It was his 10th goal of the season.
Greco and Francois Beauchemin each scored in the middle frame to put Springfield on top 3-0. The first came at 11:36 when Tim Erixon collected the puck deep in his own zone and flipped it down the ice, allowing Farnham to win a foot race and beat out an icing call. Farnham curled behind the net and nudged a pass in front where Beauchemin forced it home for his fifth goal of the season. Thirty-four seconds later, Greco drilled a one-timer past Gudlevskis' glove from the bottom of the right circle following Balisy's pass from below the goal line at 12:10.
Greco's second tally of the night came at 7:55 of the third period, pushing Springfield's lead to 4-0. A relentless Thunderbirds fore-check led to a turnover deep in Bridgeport's zone and Dryden Hunt filtered a pass to the left circle for another one-timer by Greco. It beat Gudlevskis' blocker for his team-leading 28th goal of the season and his ninth in 10 meetings against Bridgeport.
Alexandre Grenier capped the scoring at 11:14 of the third period with his 17th tally of the season. Balisy and Erixon teamed up to find Grenier open for a one-time blast in his return from injury.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 0-for-7 on the power play and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill. Gudlevskis (12-15-5) made 25 saves in the contest, while Bridgeport outshot Springfield 39-30.
Next Time Out: The Sound Tigers face the Hartford Wolf Pack for the last time this season tomorrow night with a 7 p.m. puck drop at the XL Center. Fans can follow all of the live action from Springfield, Mass. on the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHL Live, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.
Don't Go It Alone: Whether it's a corporate outing, a fundraiser, or just friends getting together, a group outing with the Sound Tigers will guarantee an unforgettable experience filled with fast-paced action on the ice, great music, promotions and contests at an affordable price. The Sound Tigers have a variety of packages and promotional events to offer. Please call the team's front office at 203-345-2300 ext. 7 for more information on the benefits of bringing your group to a future game!
American Hockey League Stories from March 30, 2018
- San Antonio Lands Crucial 5-3 Victory over Stockton - San Antonio Rampage
- Admirals Earn Big Two Points in Win over Stars - Milwaukee Admirals
- Nowick's Two-Point Night Not Enough to Get Heat Past San Antonio - Stockton Heat
- Iowa Bested by Tucson 6-4 - Iowa Wild
- Blackwell's Big Night Sends Amerks Past Checkers in Overtime - Rochester Americans
- Griffins' Point Streak at Six After 3-2 Shootout Win - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Barracuda Earn Point in 3-2 Shootout Loss at Grand Rapids - San Jose Barracuda
- Bridgeport guides 39 shots on goal, but can't solve Harri Sateri - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Tops Pack Late in OT - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Alexis D'Aoust Scores Twice as Comets Kiss Hershey Goodbye - Utica Comets
- Phantoms Post 4th March Shutout in 2-0 Win over Providence - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Crunch Roll Past Senators, 4-1 - Syracuse Crunch
- Thunderbirds Shut out Sound Tigers to Sweep Home Series with Bridgeport - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Crunch Beat Sens in Final Match-Up of Season - Belleville Senators
- Bears Fall in Lone Visit to Utica, 3-1 - Hershey Bears
- Checkers Pick up One Point But Fall in OT to Amerks - Charlotte Checkers
- Penguins Earn 40th Win with 4-3 Victory at Hartford - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Devils Come Back in 3-2 Win over Rocket - Binghamton Devils
- Lehigh Valley Too Much for P-Bruins in 2-0 Defeat - Providence Bruins
- San Diego Gulls to Host Blood Drive at The Rinks - Poway Ice on Monday, April 2 - San Diego Gulls
- Canucks Recall Goaltender Thatcher Demko from the Comets Under Emergency Conditions - Utica Comets
- Comets Sign Forward Lukas Jasek to Amateur Tryout Contract - Utica Comets
- Wolf Pack Sign Forward Drew Melanson to ATO - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game #62 Preview: Tucson at Iowa - Tucson Roadrunners
- Marlies Meet Moose in Manitoba - Toronto Marlies
- Amerks Partner with Gilda's Club Rochester for Fourth Annual "Pink the Rink" Night April 7 - Rochester Americans
- Syracuse Crunch to Host Eighth Annual Pucks for Paws Presented by Bankers Healthcare Group April 7 - Syracuse Crunch
- American Hockey League Announces Suspensions - AHL
- Dziurzynski Comes Full Circle with Sens Organization - Belleville Senators
- Iowa Wild Signs Defenseman Mark Auk to ATO - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack to Take Part in Make-A-Wish Celebration - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears Make First Visit to Utica Since 2016 - Hershey Bears
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators at Crunch, March 30 - Belleville Senators
- Sabres Recall Wilcox from Rochester - Rochester Americans
- Sound Tigers Face T-Birds, Wolf Pack this Weekend - Bridgeport Islanders
- T-Birds Return Home for Two Weekend Games - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Berube Recalled by Blackhawks - Rockford IceHogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
