Sound Tigers Continue Trek Through North Division
March 4, 2017 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (March 4, 20 17 ) - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (35-18-1-1) continue their trek through the North Division this weekend with a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader against the Rochester Americans (22-32-0-2) and Utica Comets (24-23-7-2). The Sound Tigers have won 17 of their last 20 games overall, including a 4-3 overtime victory against the Toronto Marlies to open their road trip on Thursday. Tanner Fritz scored twice including the overtime winner, while Ryan Pulock and Travis St. Denis also found the back of the net. Eamon McAdam backstopped the win with an AHL career-high 34 saves. The Sound Tigers are fourth in the Atlantic Division standings with a magic number of "36."
TIGERS VS. AMERKS
Tonight's game marks the fourth and final meeting between the Sound Tigers and Amerks this season, and the second of two matchups at The Blue Cross Arena. Bridgeport leads the series 3-0-0-0, including a 5-2 win in Rochester last month. Kellen Jones and Josh Winquist each scored in the first 2:02 that night (Feb. 17), while Michael Dal Colle, Carter Verhaeghe and Josh Ho-Sang netted the final three tallies. Dal Colle currently leads Bridgeport against Rochester with five points (one goal, four assists) in three games. The Sound Tigers went 1-0-1-0 against the Amerks last season.
VIEW FROM ROCHESTER
The Amerks have dropped three straight games and are 3-7-0-0 in their last 10, occupying the basement of both the North Division and Eastern Conference. Last night, Rochester failed to muster up any offense and suffered a 3-0 loss at home to the St. John's IceCaps. Overall, Cole Schneider continues to lead the club with 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) and Nick Baptiste paces the team with 20 goals. Schneider is also tied for 13th in the AHL in scoring. The newest Amerk is former Hartford Wolf Pack captain Mat Bodie, who was traded from the New York Rangers to the Buffalo Sabres (and assigned to Rochester) on Wednesday. Bodie has 30 points (eight goals, 22 assists) in 46 games this season.
TIGERS VS. COMETS
Sunday's matinee game will mark the second of four meetings between the Sound Tigers and Comets this season, and the first of two matchups at the Utica Memorial Auditorum. Utica leads the series 1-0-0-0 following a 3-1 win in Bridgeport on Jan. 14. Ryan Pulock struck first at 7:33 of the second period, but the Comets responded with three unanswered goals.
VIEW FROM UTICA
The Comets enter tonight's action on a three-game win streak and a five-game point streak (4-0-1-0). Last night, Joseph LaBate, Darren Archibald and Alexandre Grenier all scored once and added an assist en route to a 5-2 win over the Binghamton Senators at home. Between the pipes, Thatcher Demko turned back 28 shots for his 12 win this season. Grenier leads Utica with 40 points and 24 assists in 52 games, while Archibald paces the club with 18 goals. In addition, All-Star defenseman Jordan Subban is second among AHL blue-liners with 14 goals. Utica hosts Albany tonight before welcoming the Sound Tigers to the "AUD" on Sunday. The Comets currently sit fifth in the North Division standings, three points behind St. John's.
GOING STREAKING
New York Islanders prospect Ryan Pulock is on a team-best five-game point streak dating back to Feb. 19. The third-year defenseman has one goal and five assists during that span and leads all Sound Tigers' blue-liners with 11 goals this season. Pulock also ranks fifth on the team's active scoring list with 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 34 appearances this season.
FRITZ FINDING STRIDE
Following his two-goal performance on Thursday, second-year forward Tanner Fritz has 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in his last 10 games, improving to second on the team's active scoring list with 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) this season. The Ohio State product is also second on the club in goals behind Bracken Kearns.
QUICK HITS
Veteran center Bracken Kearns is two points shy of 500 professional points... Bridgeport is 12-3-1-0 against North Division opponents... Andrew Rowe is scheduled to play his 400th professional game tonight in Rochester... The 29-year-old has played 185 AHL games between the Adirondack Phantoms, Hartford Wolf Pack, Charlotte Checkers, Norfolk Admirals and Sound Tigers, as well as 214 contests in the ECHL.
AFFILIATE
NHL: New York Islanders (30-22-11): Next at Calgary - Sunday, 4 p.m. ET
AHL: Missouri Mavericks (26-22-2-5): Next vs. Allen - Tonight, 8:05 p.m. ET
Hockey Happy Hour: The Sound Tigers return to Webster Bank Arena on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. puck drop against the Providence Bruins. It's another "Hockey Happy Hour" night featuring $1 hot dogs and $5 beers (for those 21 and older) at all first floor concession stands presented by Hummel Bros. Good seats are available by CLICKING HERE .
Power Rangers Night: The Sound Tigers will celebrate Power Rangers Night next Saturday, March 11 at 7 p.m. Meet the Red Ranger and witness a live action performance during intermission at Webster Bank Arena. A special $25 Power Rangers Night package is available and includes a ticket to the game, a hot dog / chips / soda combo voucher and a classic Power Rangers themed Sound Tigers t-shirt. Call (203) 345-2300 Option 7 to order or ORDER ONLINE NOW . Packages are limited and the package is not available at the box office.
For additional details or to reserve seats for any of the 2016-17 giveaway and theme nights, please call the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 345-2300.
Executive suites and premium seat packages are also available by calling the team's front office at (203) 345-4841. If you are interested in group outings with your friends, family, co-workers, or clients an unforgettable experience at a discounted rate, call the group sales hotline at (203) 345-2300 Ext. 7.
About the Bridgeport Sound Tigers
Founded in 2001, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers Hockey Club is the top minor league affiliate of the New York Islanders. Don't miss your chance to take part in the family fun entertainment happening every home game at Webster Bank Arena. For further information on ticket or sponsorship opportunities, call our office at (203) 345-2300 or e-mail info@soundtigers.com . Keep up with the latest Sound Tigers news on Facebook and on Twitter . For more team information, log on to soundtigers.com .
---soundtigers.com---
American Hockey League Stories from March 4, 2017
- RECAP | Toronto Tops St. John's 3-1 - St. John's IceCaps
- You CAN Go Home Again McDonald Scores Game-Winner in Hometown - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- WOLF PACK GAME RECAP - Lehigh Valley Phantoms 3, Hartford Wolf Pack 1 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Sound Tigers Continue Trek Through North Division - Bridgeport Islanders
- Hogs Host Wild on Autism Awareness Night - Rockford IceHogs
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Forward John Kurtz to PTO - Syracuse Crunch
- Detroit Assigns Howard for Conditioning - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Ontario Reign Game Preview: Reign Collide with Roadrunners Tonight - Ontario Reign
- Moose More Than Hogs Can Muster, Prevail 5-3 - Rockford IceHogs
- Reign Put out the Heat, 2-1 - Ontario Reign
- Heat Penalty Kill Perfect Despite Tight Loss In Ontario - Stockton Heat
- Gulls Continue Torrid Stretch, Defeat Tucson 4-1 - San Diego Gulls
- Griffins Edge Rampage, 4-2 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Rampage Drop 4-2 Decision to Griffins - San Antonio Rampage
- Manitoba Moose Recap: Manitoba 5 at Rockford 3 - Manitoba Moose
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.
