AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Four different scorers propel Bridgeport to victory

Published on March 16, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - The Sound Tigers used four third period goals to win their third straight game, this one 4-2 over the Springfield Falcons on Wednesday night at the MassMutual Center.

Ben Holmstrom, Mike Halmo, James Wright and Tanner Fritz all tallied in the final period to improve Bridgeport's record to 34-23-3-3. Stephon Williams stopped 19 of 21 shots for the win.

The Sound Tigers outshot the Falcons 13-5 in the opening period, but neither team could break the deadlock. It looked as if the Sound Tigers scored with no time remaining on the clock in the first period, but Alan Quine's shot was deemed no goal as it crossed the line just after the buzzer sounded.

Springfield took the lead in the second period, but not without a little controversy of its own. Philip Samuelsson sent a shot towards the Bridgeport net that Stephon Williams stopped, but the puck came loose to Laurent Dauphin who just tucked it into the Bridgeport net. Much like the first play, the goal went under review but was upheld and the Falcons held a 1-0 lead.

The floodgates opened in the third, with the Sound Tigers' captain getting the scoring started. Matt Carkner made the play, firing a couple of shots towards the Springfield net. Carkner's second shot was deflected on goal by Holmstrom and past Niklas Treutle to tie the game at 1-1.

Then on the 12th power play of the game, Bridgeport was the team to finally get a power play goal. Bracken Kearns centered a pass in front for Halmo who stuffed it through Treutle to make it 2-1. Halmo's man advantage marker was the only power play goal of the game, as Bridgeport finished 1-for-6 while the penalty kill went 8-for-8.

Springfield got the goal back just a minute later, as Steven Delisle threw a puck towards the Sound Tigers net that hit a Bridgeport player in front and beat Williams. Delisle's third of the season tied the game for only 69 seconds, as the Sound Tigers had an answer.

Wright made the play of the game with just over nine minutes remaining. Carter Verhaeghe sent the puck the length of the ice and the play was a delayed icing. Instead, Wright negated the icing and battled his way to the front of the net, beating Treutle to put Bridgeport up 3-2. His incredible individual effort resulted in being named the No. 1 star of the game.

Tanner Fritz finished the scoring with just under five minutes left in the game, beating Treutle with a snap shot from 40 feet out. Fritz's second of the season came unassisted.

As brilliant as he was the first two periods, Treutle ended the game with 37 stops on 41 shots. The Sound Tigers outshot Springfield 16-8 in the third period.

The Sound Tigers look to continue their win streak with a pair of home games this weekend, starting with a Saturday night contest against the Portland Pirates. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., as it's Ninja Turtle Night, with all four Ninja Turtles in attendance. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m.

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American Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2016


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