AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Kearns Scores Twice as Bridgeport Earns Second Straight 5-3 Road Win

Published on January 21, 2017 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- Bracken Kearns scored twice and added an assist to lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (20-15-1-1), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, to a 5-3 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds (15-16-5-2) at the MassMutual Center on Friday.

Steve Bernier (one goal, two assists), Andrew Rowe (one goal, two assists) and Ryan Pulock (two assists) also logged multiple points to help Bridgeport capture its second straight 5-3 win. The Sound Tigers have now registered at least one point in five straight road games (3-0-1-1), and are five points out of a playoff spot.

After a scoreless opening frame, the Thunderbirds struck first at 1:25 of the second period courtesy of Graham Black. Chase Balisy forced the puck to Anthony Greco in the trapezoid, where the latter slipped a centering feed to the crease despite being pinned against the wall. Black was the beneficiary, flipping a shot over Jaroslav Halak's glove from the right post.

The Sound Tigers bounced back with two goals before the second intermission to lead 2-1 after 40 minutes. Bernier notched his team-leading eighth power-play tally at the 3:02 mark when he redirected Pulock's shot from the blue line under the glove of netminder Mike McKenna. It was his 14th tally of the season overall.

Kearns followed with a power-play goal of his own in the final 11 seconds of the middle frame. With Mike Downing in the box for interference, Kearns was stuffed on an initial shot by McKenna, but the rebound trickled to Bernier below the goal line. There, Bernier fed it back in front where the veteran forward forced it home for his 14th goal of the season.

Andrew Rowe extended Bridgeport's lead at 6:50 of the third period, capitalizing on a breakaway for his sixth tally of the year. Kearns hit a streaking Rowe through the neutral zone, helping Rowe get behind the defense and to the doorstep. He pulled off a successful head fake and beat McKenna;

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American Hockey League Stories from January 21, 2017


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