AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Face Three-Game Test this Weekend

Published on October 28, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


DATE OPPONENT TIME BROADCAST

Oct. 28 @ Springfield 7:05 p.m. AHLlive.com

Oct. 29 vs. Lehigh Valley 7 p.m. AHLlive.com

Oct. 30 vs. Springfield 3 p.m. AHLlive.com

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers open their first three-game series of the season tonight with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. From there, the Sound Tigers will return to Webster Bank Arena for the first time since opening weekend to face Lehigh Valley and Springfield on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Bridgeport is looking to bounce back after a 5-2 setback against the Hershey Bears last Saturday. Forward Tanner Fritz scored both goals for Bridgeport that night - his first multi-goal game in the AHL - while Kyle Burroughs also found the score sheet twice with a pair of assists. The Sound Tigers have not won, or lost, back-to-back games yet this season.

PROMOTIONAL HEADLINERS

Be one of the first 2,000 fans at Saturday's game against Lehigh Valley and receive a free Storm garden gnome courtesy of Buckle Up Connecticut. Plus, receive $2.00 off your game ticket at the box office when you show your AAA Membership Card. Sunday is "Kids Free Day." Get one (1) free kids ticket with the purchase of one (1) paid adult ticket at the Webster Bank Arena Click It or Ticket Box Office only. Fans can also take advantage of the Sunday Family Pack, which includes four (4) tickets, four (4) hot dogs and four (4) soft drinks for as low as $99!

TIGERS VS. THUNDERBIRDS

Tonight's game marks the second of 12 meetings between Bridgeport and Springfield this season, and the first of six matchups at MassMutual Center. The Thunderbirds currently lead the series 1-0-0-0 after a 2-1 win at Webster Bank Arena on October 16 - their first regular-season victory in franchise history. Brody Sutter scored the game-winning goal at 8:52 of the third period that afternoon.

VIEW FROM SPRINGFIELD

Head coach Georgie Kinnear's club has won a division-best three straight games, including a thrilling 5-4 overtime victory in their home opener last Saturday. Trailing by two with less than eight minutes to play, the Thunderbirds got a pair of goals from Ian McCoshen and Dryden Hunt to force the extra frame before Mackenzie Weeger scored the game-winner at 1:42 of overtime. Hunt is now tied for second among AHL rookies with three goals this season, while Reto Berra (who was last in net on Friday) is second among AHL goaltenders with a 0.50 GAA and third with a .976 save percentage. The win came in front of a sold-out crowd of 6,793 fans.

TIGERS VS. PHANTOMS

Saturday's game will mark the second of eight meetings between the Sound Tigers and Phantoms this season, and the first of four at Webster Bank Arena. Bridgeport currently leads the season series 1-0-0-0 after a 5-2 victory at PPL Center last Friday, in which five different skaters scored including Michael Dal Colle's first professional tally with just 1.5 seconds left in the second period. Bridgeport went 4-2-0-0 against Lehigh Valley last season.

VIEW FROM LEHIGH VALLEY

The Phantoms (1-1-1-0) enter the weekend on a two-game slide following their setback to the Sound Tigers last Friday and a crushing overtime loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. The club opens a five-game road trip tonight in Hartford before heading to Bridgeport on Saturday and concluding a three-game weekend series on Sunday in Hershey. The Phantoms are led by rookie forward Danick Martel with two goals and three points through their first three contests.

CAPTAIN OF THE CREASE

Fourth-year goaltender Christopher Gibson was impressive again last Friday despite facing just 20 shots against Lehigh Valley. He stopped 18 of those chances to earn his second win in as many starts this season. Gibson was Bridgeport's workhorse in 2015-16, making 42 appearances (19-11-6). He is currently ninth on the Sound Tigers' all-time wins list among goaltenders (21), just two away from Mike Morrison who won 23 games from 2007-08.

YOUNGSTER PRODUCING EARLY

Rookie playmaker Josh Ho-Sang has recorded three points in his first four pro games and is currently on a team-best, and career-best, three-game point streak (3a). Ho-Sang, 20, was selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (28th overall) of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

BERNIER SIGNS ON

The New York Islanders announced Monday veteran winger Steve Bernier has agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract. The 31-year-old totaled six points (one goal, five assists) in 24 games with the Islanders last season and appeared in six Stanley Cup Playoff contests as the club advanced to the second round. Overall, Bernier has played 633 NHL games with the Islanders, New Jersey, Florida, Vancouver, Buffalo and San Jose, registering 230 points. He was loaned to Bridgeport on Tuesday.

QUICK HITS

Tanner Fritz's two-goal performance last Saturday the first of his AHL career and just his second overall as a pro - the last coming on January 26, 2016 with the ECHL's Missouri Mavericks against Evansville... The Sound Tigers are 20-for-22 on the penalty kill this season (90.9%), good for fifth in the AHL... Ben Holmstrom is scheduled to play his 400th AHL game on Saturday against Lehigh Valley... Bridgeport will play 11 "three-games-in-three-days" series this season.

AFFILIATE REPORT

NHL: New York Islanders (3-5-0-0): Next vs. Toronto - Sunday, 6 p.m. ET

ECHL: Missouri Mavericks (1-4-0-0): Next @ Brampton - Tonight, 6:15 p.m. ET

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.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from October 28, 2016


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