Islanders Face T-Birds on Thanksgiving Eve
November 24, 2021 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Bridgeport Islanders (5-9-1-2) face the Springfield Thunderbirds (12-2-2-0) for the third time in five days, with puck drop set for 6:05 p.m. tonight at MassMutual Center. It marks Bridgeport's second Thanksgiving Eve matchup against Springfield in the last three seasons, following a 3-2 win at MassMutual Center on Nov. 27, 2019.
LAST TIME OUT
The Islanders have dropped five straight games for the first time this season (0-4-1-0) and are looking to right the ship after a 5-2 setback at home on Sunday. Simon Holmstrom (one goal, one assist) and Otto Koivula (two assists) each earned a multi-point effort, but Springfield scored four times in the third period for its fourth consecutive win. Parker Wotherspoon also collected his first goal of the season, which gave the Islanders a 2-1 lead early in the third period.
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SERIES AT A GLANCE
Tonight's game is the seventh of 12 meetings between the Islanders and Thunderbirds this season, and the fourth of six in Massachusetts. Springfield is 5-0-1-0 in the series and 3-0-0-0 in those games at home. Otto Koivula leads the Islanders with six points (all assists) in six games against the St. Louis Blues' affiliate, which leads the Atlantic Division. Nathan Walker and Logan Brown each have seven points in six contests.
VIEW FROM SPRINGFIELD
Drew Bannister's team has won four straight games and eight of its last 10, leading the Atlantic Division with 26 points in 16 games (two points ahead of Hartford). On Sunday, Nathan Walker scored twice and Logan Brown and Tyler Tucker each had three assists in Springfield's 5-2 win at Bridgeport. Matthew Peca also recorded his team-leading ninth goal of the season (tied for second-most in the AHL), while Joel Hofer (5-0-1) made 27 saves to remain unbeaten in regulation. He ranks sixth in the AHL with a 2.13 goals-against-average.
HELPING HAND
Otto Koivula notched his third multi-point game of the season with two assists on Sunday, giving him a team-high 12 helpers and 15 points in 17 games. Koivula's 12 assists are tied for the most among all active AHL players and his 15 points are tied for 10th in the league. He has at least one point in 12 of his last 15 games.
MacLEAN'S RECENT RUN
Kyle MacLean assisted on Cole Bardreau's first goal of the season last Saturday in Springfield, pushing his point streak to a season-high six games. It is Bridgeport's longest scoring streak of the season and matched his career high. Despite the streak coming to an end on Sunday, MacLean has seven points in his last seven games (two goals, five assists).
McCARTHY MAKES AHL DEBUT
Rookie defenseman Connor McCarthy was recalled from Worcester (ECHL) last Saturday and made his AHL debut that night in Springfield. McCarthy played again on Sunday and finished the weekend with five shots-on-goal in two games. The 25-year-old had two assists and a team-high plus-five rating in 10 games with Worcester to begin the season following a four-year career at Clarkson University.
QUICK HITS
Along with McCarthy, forwards Felix Bibeau and Paul Thompson, as well as defenseman Mike Cornell, have been recalled from Worcester (ECHL)... Forward Collin Adams was reassigned to Bridgeport by the New York Islanders on Tuesday... Simon Holmstrom is second on the team in assists (nine) and tied for third in scoring (11 points, one behind Arnaud Durandeau)... Jakub Skarek is fifth among all AHL goalies in minutes played (625:28)... Blade Jenkins, who scored twice in Hartford last Wednesday, has points in four of his last five games and is tied for second on the team in goals (five).
AFFILIATE REPORT
New York Islanders (5-8-2); Last: 3-0 L vs. Toronto, Sunday -- Next: Tonight vs. NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m.
Worcester Railers (4-6-0-1): Last: 3-1 W vs. Trois Rivieres, Saturday -- Next: Tonight at Maine, 7 p.m.
Connect with the Bridgeport Islanders
The Bridgeport Islanders are proud to introduce their new social media handles on Facebook (@AHLIslanders), Twitter (@AHLIslanders) and Instagram (@AHLIslanders). The team can be reached by phone at 203-345-2300.
American Hockey League Stories from November 24, 2021
- Providence Bruins Score Late Goal to Force Overtime, Fall to Hershey Bears, 4-3 - Providence Bruins
- Amerks Take Down First-Place Comets - Rochester Americans
- Bears Win in Overtime Upon Video Review on Thanksgiving Eve - Hershey Bears
- Penguins' Late Rally Falls Short in 4-3 Loss to Checkers - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Crunch Edged by Senators, 3-2 - Syracuse Crunch
- Checkers Hold on for 4-3 Win over Penguins - Charlotte Checkers
- Comets Suffer First Loss of Season, Lose 4-2 to Americans - Utica Comets
- Islanders Can't Slow Surging Springfield - Bridgeport Islanders
- T-Birds Feast on Islanders for 5th Straight Win - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Wolves Welcome Lodnia - Chicago Wolves
- Roadrunners and Fans Team for Toy Drive this Weekend - Tucson Roadrunners
- Frost Recalled to Flyers - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Scott Wilson Aiming to Return to Highest Level, Helping Charlotte Along the Way - Charlotte Checkers
- Monsters Team up with Physicians Ambulance for Season of Giving - Cleveland Monsters
- Phantoms Power Play Presented by Provident Bank - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Tampa Bay Lightning Reassign Defenseman Fredrik Claesson to Syracuse Crunch - Syracuse Crunch
- Admirals Get Two from Predators - Milwaukee Admirals
- Gov. Charlie Baker to Drop Puck at T-Birds Game Wednesday - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Bell MTS Iceplex Recognizes Arena Naming Partners - Manitoba Moose
- Rochester Americans Game Preview: Wednesday, November 24 at Utica - Rochester Americans
- Game Preview: Bruins at Bears, 7 PM - Hershey Bears
- Detroit Recalls Renouf, Grand Rapids Signs Hillman - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Islanders Face T-Birds on Thanksgiving Eve - Bridgeport Islanders
- Capitals Recall Malenstyn and Sgarbossa from Chocolate and White - Hershey Bears
- Penguins Preview: November 24, 2021 - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
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