Bruins Double-up on Islanders, 6-3
December 1, 2023 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The Bridgeport Islanders (6-12-1-0), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, scored one goal on the power play, once shorthanded, and once at even strength in a 6-3 loss to the Providence Bruins (9-8-1-2) at Amica Mutual Pavilion on Friday.
Karson Kuhlman had one goal and one assist against his former team, while Tyce Thompson notched an assist in his Bridgeport debut. The Islanders hung with the Bruins in the first and third periods, but surrendered five goals in the second, which was too much to overcome.
It didn't take long for tempers to boil over on Friday, as Eetu Liukas and Joey Abate tangled up and dropped the gloves just 3:38 into the game. Liukas and Abate traded hits on opposite ends of the ice before agreeing to an altercation in front of the benches, which set the tone for an evening that featured 44 combined penalty minutes.
The game remained scoreless until 1:04 of the second period when Marc McLaughlin collected his fourth goal of the season, from John Farinacci and Luke Toporowski. It sparked a five-goal middle frame for Boston's affiliate. Former Bridgeport defenseman Parker Wotherspoon followed up just 5:06 later with his first Bruins goal on a lengthy shot from the point that beat Jakub Skarek (3-9-1).
Otto Koivula cut the deficit in half at the 8:44 mark with a sweeping backhand shot from just above the crease. Kyle MacLean dug the puck out of the left corner and found Kuhlman near the left faceoff dot, where the latter immediately fed Koivula at the doorstep. Koivula turned on the backhand and lifted a rising shot over goalie Michael DiPietro's (4-3-0) outstretched glove for his third goal of the season.
The Bruins retaliated with each of the next four goals to take a 6-1 lead early in the third period. Among those tallies, Anthony Richard tipped in another lengthy Wotherspoon try, and Georgii Merkulov recorded the eventual game-winner at 14:10 of the second. Brett Harrison scored his first professional goal on the power play at 19:05 of the period.
Kuhlman capitalized shorthanded at 15:16 of the third period for his second point of the night and fourth goal in the last seven games. Kuhlman established a burst of speed in the neutral zone and skated to a loose puck, driving around the Bruins' defense and beating DiPietro with a low shot. Just 62 seconds later during a Mason Lohrei tripping penalty, Ruslan Iskhakov snapped home a terrific shot from the left circle for his team-leading seventh goal.
The Islanders went 1-for-3 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. Bridgeport has scored a power-play goal in three straight games and four of its last five.
The contest ended just as physical as it began. Abate and Seth Helgeson dropped the gloves late in the third period and Abate was given a game misconduct for his second altercation of the night.
The Islanders fell to 1-3-0-0 against the Bruins this season.
Next Time Out: The Islanders square off against Providence tomorrow night in a 7 p.m. rematch at Total Mortgage Arena. It's 'Teddy Bear Drive' Night, where one lucky fan will win $2,500 cash courtesy of Coca-Cola. Donate a new toy or stuffed animal upon entry and receive a golden raffle ticket for your chance to win. The winner will be selected immediately after the Islanders score their first goal. All toys will be donated to the Hometown Foundation. Tickets for Saturday's contest are on sale now.
Tomorrow's rematch can be seen live on AHLTV.com or heard via the Bridgeport Islanders Radio Network, beginning with the Connecticut Lottery Pregame Countdown at 6:45 p.m.
Connect with the Bridgeport Islanders
Keep up with the latest Islanders news and connect with other fans on Facebook (@AHLIslanders), Twitter (@AHLIslanders) and Instagram (@AHLIslanders).
American Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2023
- Reign Blanked by Firebirds - Ontario Reign
- Silver Knights Drop First of Series to Calgary, 2-1 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Canucks Rally Back to Defeat Laval 4-2 on Friday Night - Abbotsford Canucks
- Texas Ties Game Twice Late Before Winning in Shootout - Texas Stars
- Caggiula's Three-Point Night Helps the Condors Get a Point - Bakersfield Condors
- Chris Driedger's 28 Save Shutout Stymies Ontario - Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Roadrunners Beat San Jose 5-1 to Open Weekend - Tucson Roadrunners
- Collin Delia Records 31 Saves in Home Victory - Manitoba Moose
- Hunt's Three-Point Night Lifts Iowa to 5-1 Win at Colorado - Iowa Wild
- Point Streak Ends in Hartford - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Hunt's Three-Point Night Pushes Wild to 5-1 Win Over Eagles - Colorado Eagles
- Barracuda Burned by Roadrunners, 5-1 - San Jose Barracuda
- Griffins End Four-Game Home Stand with 4-1 Win Over Milwaukee - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Hogs' Point Streak Ends in Manitoba - Rockford IceHogs
- Amerks Top B-Sens in Shootout in Levi's Debut - Rochester Americans
- Senators Pick Up Point To Begin Back-To-Back Set With Americans - Belleville Senators
- Wolf Pack Win Fifth Straight as Special Teams Help Power Past Phantoms 7-3 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Penguins Come Back to Steal Springfield's Thunder, 3-2 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Bears Push Win Streak To Eight With 4-2 Win Over Checkers - Hershey Bears
- Bruins Double-up on Islanders, 6-3 - Bridgeport Islanders
- Penguins Push Back, Steal OT Win from T-Birds - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Second Period Offense Bolsters P-Bruins to Victory Over Islanders - Providence Bruins
- Crunch Defeat Marlies, 4-3 - Syracuse Crunch
- Bears Use Fast Start to Defeat Checkers 4-2 - Charlotte Checkers
- Admirals Lose in Grand Rapids - Milwaukee Admirals
- Morning Skate Report: December 1, 2023 - Henderson Silver Knights
- Panthers Assign Uvis Balinskis to Charlotte - Charlotte Checkers
- Roadrunners Holiday Helper Program Gets Underway Tonight - Tucson Roadrunners
- T-Birds Generate $15,000 in Donations to Rock 102 Mayflower Marathon - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Henderson Silver Knights Announce Plans for Harold's Hockey Tonk, Stanley Cup® to be Featured in Pregame Show - Henderson Silver Knights
- Game Notes: CGY at HEN - Calgary Wranglers
- Šilovs Selected as AHL Goaltender of the Month - Abbotsford Canucks
- Bourque, Stankoven, Silovs Named AHL Award Winners for November - AHL
- Stars Forwards Mavrik Bourque and Logan Stankoven Win AHL Monthly Awards - Texas Stars
- Hershey Bears Hockey Club Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2023 - Hershey Bears
- Jonatan Berggren Joins Grand Rapids, Antti Tuomisto Heads to Toledo - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Game Preview: Condors v Stars, 7 p.m. - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Preview: Iowa Wild at Colorado Eagles - Iowa Wild
- Wolf Pack and Phantoms Kickoff Weekend Back-To-Back at XL Center - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Game Preview: Bears at Checkers, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Forward Jaydon Dureau to Orlando Solar Bears - Syracuse Crunch
- Game #19: Tucson Roadrunners vs. San Jose Barracuda - Tucson Roadrunners
- Division-Leading Monsters Look to Extend Four-Game Win Streak at Home this Weekend - Cleveland Monsters
- Hogs Look to Extend Point Streak in Winnipeg at Start of Road Trip - Rockford IceHogs
- Bridgeport Islanders Face Bruins to Begin Home-And-Home Series - Bridgeport Islanders
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.
