AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Bridgeport starts season 3-0 with win over Springfield

Published on October 13, 2015 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (Oct 13, 2015) - A third straight win for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers is highlighted by power pl ay goals and empty netters, which secured them a 5-3 victory over the Springfield Falcons on Tuesday night at Webster Bank Arena.

The penalties started when Tyler Gaudet went to the box for tripping at 8:01. The Sound Tigers took advantage of this opportunity at 8:33 when Joe Whitney set up Kevin Czuczman with a cross-ice pass, which resulted in a power play goal. Ryan Pulock, recently loaned to the Sound Tigers by the Islanders, also picked up a helper.

Springfield struck back with an Alex Grant slap shot from the blueline which went five hole on Gibson during a penalty on Mike Halmo for high sticking. It was Grant's first of the season assisted by Lucas Lessio and Dustin Jeffrey.

At 8:01 in the second period Kevin Czuczman was hooked when he had a good chance for a shot and Gibson talked to the refs but the penalty on Selleck stood.

The Sound Tigers earned a 5-on-3 for 1:12, but could not get a shot off with the two-man advantage. The first penalty expired, but Bracken Kearns scored a power play goal with six seconds left at 10:44 on a wrist shot. Kearns' third goal in as many games made the score 2-1 in favor of Bridgeport.

At 13:22 into the second period, Justin Florek sat for interference. After two unbelievable saves by Gibson, Jeffrey got a goal off the end boards with Philip Samuelsson and Grant notching the assists to tie it up 2-2.

After a back and forth start to the third period, Alan Quine found Jesse Graham with a perfect cross ice pass as a penalty expire and Graham found the back of the net to make it 3-2. Graham's second in three games looked to also be his second game-winner of the season, especially after Ben Holmstrom scored an empty netter with 1:28 remaining.

However, the Falcons came right back, as Brendan Shinnimin chipped a rebound past Gibson for his first goal of the season. Grant recorded his second point of the night, while the former Sound Tiger Jeffrey had a hand in all three Springfield goals.

With just 49 seconds left in the game, Scott Mayfield received a trip to the sin bin for cross checking and it looked like it could be trouble for Bridgeport. After a couple chances with the 6-on-4, Justin Florek sealed the game for Bridgeport with 3.8 seconds left to go, scoring into the empty net to make it 5-3.

Gibson made 30 saves in the win while Springfield and Bridgeport both went 2-for-6 on the power play.

The Sound Tigers travel to Providence for their first road game of the season on Friday where they take on the Bruins at 7:05 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from October 13, 2015


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