
Sound Tigers Host Penguins in "Winter Fun" Game this Morning
January 23, 2019 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (23-15-4-2), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, host the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (20-18-4-1) in their third of four morning games this season, facing off at 10:30 a.m. today at Webster Bank Arena. The Sound Tigers are coming off of a 4-1 loss to the Hershey Bears on Monday, in which Otto Koivula converted on the power play late in the first period, but Hershey finished the game with four unanswered goals. It extended Bridgeport's winless in regulation streak to 10 games (3-6-0-1) and dropped the club to 2-6-0-1 since the calendar flipped to 2019.
RADIO: www.bit.ly/BSTRadio
WATCH AHLTV: www.theahl.com/AHLTV
TIGERS VS. PENGUINS
Today's game marks the fifth of eight meetings between the Sound Tigers and Penguins this season, and the third of four in Connecticut. Each team has won two of the first four matchups, but Bridgeport has points in three of the four following a 4-3 overtime loss in their last tilt on Dec. 19 at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Michael Dal Colle, Mitch Vande Sompel and Travis St. Denis each scored that night, while former Sound Tiger Kevin Czuczman won it for the Penguins at 2:24 of overtime. Ethan Prow and Sam Lafferty lead all players in the season series with six points in six games.
VIEW FROM WILKES-BARRE
The Penguins earned a 2-1 overtime victory against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Monday afternoon, led by Ethan Prow's game-winning goal with just one minute left in the extra session. It was Prow's 12th goal of the season, which moves him into a tie for second place among all AHL defensemen and into sixth place among blue-liners in points (30). Despite the victory, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton is winless in regulation in four straight games and has slipped back to sixth place in the Atlantic Division standings, three points out of a playoff spot. Teddy Blueger leads the team in scoring with 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 43 games and is currently on a three-game point streak. Blueger also has points in eight of his last nine games overall.
FRITZ FOCUSED
Tanner Fritz scored twice in Charlotte last Wednesday and added an assist on Saturday, and now has eight points (four goals, four assists) in his last nine games. The 27-year-old forward is tied for fifth on the Sound Tigers in points (25), fourth in helpers (17) and third in multi-point games (eight), despite playing just 37 AHL games due to call-ups with the Islanders. Fritz has one assist in four NHL games this season. With a helper on Saturday, Fritz also moved into ninth place on Bridgeport's all-time assists list (78).
RISE AND SHINE
Today's game is the Sound Tigers "Winter Fun" school-day contest, presented by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. It is a highly-popular event that will draw thousands of local students and children from various youth organizations. The Sound Tigers are 14-11-2-1 all-time when the puck drops before noon and are currently 1-0-1-0 in morning games this season. Bridgeport notched a 7-3 win against Binghamton on Nov. 7 and suffered a 4-3 overtime loss in Hartford on Nov. 14.
FREE HOCKEY FRENZY
Saturday's win against Providence marked the 15th time Bridgeport had gone to overtime this season - tied for the most times in the AHL with Iowa, Milwaukee and Rockford. It was also the club's ninth win beyond regulation - most in the league. The Sound Tigers have been no strangers to close games this season and the team continues to lead the AHL in one-goal outcomes with 27 (17-4-4-2).
QUICK HITS
Bridgeport has been outshot in 19 straight games, dating back to Dec. 5...Chris Bourque doesn't have a goal in his last 13 games - his longest such streak with the Sound Tigers... Mitch Vande Sompel played his 100th pro game on Monday... Kyle Burroughs played his 224th contest with Bridgeport last Wednesday, passing Scott Mayfield for 10th place on the team's all-time games played list... Christopher Gibson won his 57th game with the Sound Tigers on Saturday, passing Rick DiPietro for third place on the team's all-time wins list... Josh Ho-Sang celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday... Sebastian Aho is tied for 13th among league rookies with 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) in 35 games this season.
AFFILIATE REPORT
NHL: New York Islanders (29-15-5): Next: Friday, Feb. 1 vs. Tampa Bay (7 p.m. ET)
ECHL: Worcester Railers (17-17-3-2): Next: Friday at Adirondack (7 p.m. ET)
Packed Promotional Lineup: The Sound Tigers boast one of their most extensive and wide-ranging promotional schedules ever for the 2018-19 season. The fan-friendly calendar includes the return of popular themes like Hockey and Hops (Mar. 17) and Princess Night (Mar. 30). Regional hockey fans will also be elated for the addition of Hockey Weekend in Connecticut (Feb. 23-24). View the full 2018-19 promotional schedule.
For additional details or to reserve a group outing for any giveaway or theme night, please call the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 345-2300 ext 7.
American Hockey League Stories from January 23, 2019
- Sateri, Griffins Win Goalie Duel - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Phantoms Win in 4th Straight Game Past Regulation - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Moose Dropped in OT at Grand Rapids - Manitoba Moose
- Coyotes Assign Dauphin to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Bears Drop Shootout Decision, Extend Point Streak to Six - Hershey Bears
- Letestu Nets Shootout Winner as Monsters Storm Back to Beat Marlies, 6-5 - Cleveland Monsters
- Thompson, Thunderbirds Outscore Pack, 7-4 - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Devils Lose Wild Game to Amerks, 7-5 - Binghamton Devils
- Anaheim Ducks and Gulls Injury Updates - San Diego Gulls
- Redmond Sets Single-Season Franchise Record for Goals by a Defenseman - Rochester Americans
- Blues Assign Kyrou, Nolan to Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
- Casto and Fritz each score in setback on Wednesday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolves Insider: Finish the First Half Strong - Chicago Wolves
- Klimchuk Adjusting to Multi-Trade Campaign - Belleville Senators
- Marlies and Monsters Clash in Weeknight Battle - Toronto Marlies
- Blueger, Haggerty Score Twice in Pens' 5-2 Win at Bridgeport - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Marody Named to AHL All-Star Classic - Bakersfield Condors
- Detroit Assigns Hronek to Griffins - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Szwarz Named to 2019 AHL All-Star Classic Roster - Providence Bruins
- Wolanin Gets AHL All-Star Classic Nod - Belleville Senators
- Szwarz, Wolanin, Gerbe, Marody Added to 2019 AHL All-Star Classic Rosters - Cleveland Monsters
- Szwarz, Wolanin, Gerbe, Marody Added to 2019 AHL All-Star Classic Rosters - AHL
- Carrick Recalled - San Diego Gulls
- Heat Collect 6,019 Bears at Annual Teddy Bear Toss Game - Stockton Heat
- American Hockey League Announces Suspension - AHL
- T-Birds Make Third Trip to Hartford in January for Wednesday Night Matchup - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Drink Specials Tonight in Condorstown - Bakersfield Condors
- Ottawa Reassigns Balcers and Wolanin to Belleville - Belleville Senators
- Game Preview: Bears at Phantoms, 7:05 p.m. - Hershey Bears
- Sound Tigers Host Penguins in "Winter Fun" Game this Morning - Bridgeport Islanders
- Flames Assign Andrew Mangiapane & Juuso Valimaki to Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Richard, Trenin Lead Admirals over Rampage - San Antonio Rampage
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.
