Sound Tigers Open Four-Game Trip Tonight in Hershey
March 16, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
HERSHEY, Penn. - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (31-23-5-3), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, open a four-game road trip this evening with a 7 p.m. matchup against the Hershey Bears (25-29-4-5) at Giant Center. Last night, the Sound Tigers completed their second consecutive four-goal comeback in a 6-4 victory against the Rochester Americans at Webster Bank Arena. Rochester scored each of the game's first four goals in the opening 21:13, but Bridgeport rallied with six unanswered, including Travis St. Denis' first professional hat trick. The second-year forward also added a pair of assists to tie a franchise record with a five-point effort - something only four others have done in team history and the first since Ryan Strome on Nov. 1, 2013 at Worcester. Ryan Bourque (two goals), Steve Bernier (one goal, one assist) and Ryan Hitchcock (three assists) also collected multiple points as Bridgeport climbed back to within five points of a playoff spot behind the fourth-place Charlotte Checkers (two games in hand as well). The Sound Tigers have won seven of their last eight contests.
RADIO: www.bit.ly/BSTRadio
ONLINE VIDEO: www.ahllive.com
TIGERS VS. BEARS
Tonight's contest marks the fourth of six meetings between the Sound Tigers and Bears this season, and the second of third meetings in Pennsylvania. Bridgeport is 3-0-0-0 against Hershey thus far, including a 3-1 win in their last tilt on Jan. 27. Scott Eansor scored twice for the Sound Tigers that night, while Ben Holmstrom also recorded his fifth tally of the season with a shorthanded empty-netter. Bridgeport topped Hershey (3-2 in a shootout) on Nov. 26 at Giant Center when the Bourque brothers accounted for all four regulation goals and Casey Bailey won it for the Sound Tigers in a three-round shootout.
VIEW FROM HERSHEY
The Hershey Bears have had a rough 80th season and enter tonight's contest on a two-game slide, and in the basement of the Atlantic Division standings. In fact, the Bears have been shut out in back-to-back games and six times total this year - tied for the most in franchise history with the 1961-62 team. Hershey is coming off of a 3-0 loss to the Grand Rapids Griffins last Sunday and is 4-4-1-1 over its last 10 games. The team will likely miss the Calder Cup Playoffs for just the 13th time in 80 AHL seasons. Veteran forward Chris Bourque (Ryan's older brother), who skated with Team USA at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea last month, continues to lead the Bears with 47 points (13 goals, 34 assists) in 54 games this season.
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Quinnipiac University product Travis St. Denis is enjoying a remarkable second season and last night made it even better, collecting his first pro hat trick and tying a Sound Tigers record with five points. St. Denis is tied for the team lead with 37 points (20 goals, 17 assists) in 60 contests and currently paces Bridgeport in goals and power-play tallies (eight). He has seven goals in his last seven games (he had 12 all of last season) and 10 points total during that span.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Yale University captain Ryan Hitchcock signed an amateur tryout (ATO) with the Sound Tigers just eight days ago (Mar. 8) and made his professional debut last Sunday in Bridgeport's 5-4, comeback effort against Springfield, recording one shot. Last night, the 21-year-old notched three assists, including helpers on the game-tying and go-ahead goals in just his second pro game. Hitchcock is a native of Manhasset, N.Y. and grew up 11 miles from Nassau Coliseum.
QUICK HITS
Parker Wotherspoon enters tonight's contest on a career-best five-game point streak (four goals, three assists) - only two other Sound Tigers have a six-game streak this season (Sebastian Aho, Nov. 19 - Dec. 2; Josh Ho-Sang, Nov. 8 - Dec. 22)... Bridgeport is 5-1-0-0 during the month of March, outscoring opponents 23-18... Casey Bailey assisted on St. Denis' power-play goal last night and now leads the Sound Tigers with 16 power-play points (six goals, 10 assists)... Bridgeport is 3-18-2-0 when trailing after 40 minutes this year, with two of those victories coming in each of the last two games... Scott Eansor agreed to terms on his first NHL contract Thursday morning, signing a two-year, two-way deal with the New York Islanders that will begin next season.
AFFILIATE REPORT
NHL: New York Islanders (30-30-10): Next at Washington Capitals - Tonight, 7 p.m. ET
ECHL: Worcester Railers (27-25-4-3): Next vs. Wheeling Nailers - Tonight, 7:05 p.m. ET
Don't Go It Alone: Whether it's a corporate outing, a fundraiser, or just friends getting together, a group outing with the Sound Tigers will guarantee an unforgettable experience filled with fast-paced action on the ice, great music, promotions and contests at an affordable price. The Sound Tigers have a variety of packages and promotional events to offer. Please call the team's front office at 203-345-2300 ext. 7 for more information on the benefits of bringing your group to a future game!
American Hockey League Stories from March 16, 2018
- Admirals Shutout in San Diego - Milwaukee Admirals
- Rampage Collect Point in 3-2 Overtime Loss to Manitoba - San Antonio Rampage
- Gerbe Motors Monsters Past Stars in Overtime, 6-5 - Cleveland Monsters
- Griffins Play Extras on Whitecaps Night, Win 4-3 - Grand Rapids Griffins
- Johnson's Late Jolt Helps Hogs Secure Point in OT Loss to Griffins - Rockford IceHogs
- Standings Point for Phantoms Cuts Magic Number to 9 - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Bailey, Ho-Sang each score in setback on Friday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Wolf Pack End Skein with Shootout Win - Hartford Wolf Pack
- Amerks Drop 5-3 Decision to Bruins - Rochester Americans
- Czarnik's Hat-Trick Leads P-Bruins over Amerks - Providence Bruins
- Peluso, Gustafsson Lead Bears to 3-2 Comeback Win - Hershey Bears
- Crunch Victorious in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Archembault Stuns T-Birds in OT - Springfield Thunderbirds
- Marlies Edge out Sens at the Yardmen - Belleville Senators
- Special Teams Sink Comets in Loss to Laval - Utica Comets
- Devils Sign Brett Seney to Two-Year Entry-Level Contract - Binghamton Devils
- Game #56 Preview: Tucson at Stockton - Tucson Roadrunners
- Iowa Wild Signs Forward Garrett Thompson to PTO - Iowa Wild
- Dallas Stars Return Mike McKenna to Texas - Texas Stars
- Coyotes Assign Hill to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- American Hockey League Announces Suspensions - AHL
- Blue Jackets Assign Center Kevin Stenlund to Monsters - Cleveland Monsters
- Reign Sign Colton Saucerman to PTO - Ontario Reign
- Rampage Sign Defenseman Scott Dornbrock to Amateur Tryout Contract - San Antonio Rampage
- Holzer Recalled by Anaheim - San Diego Gulls
- Wolves to Wear Special St. Patrick's Day Jerseys for Easterseals - Chicago Wolves
- Coyotes Assign Hill to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Game Preview: Bears Host Sound Tigers for Lone Friday Home Game - Hershey Bears
- Showdown with the Senators - Toronto Marlies
- Sound Tigers Open Four-Game Trip Tonight in Hershey - Bridgeport Islanders
- Iowa Wild Signs Defenseman Louis Belpedio to ATO - Iowa Wild
- Game Preview: Condors Host San Jose at 7 p.m. on Beach Cooler Bag Frenzy - Bakersfield Condors
- Game Day Build-Up: Senators vs. Marlies, March 16 - Belleville Senators
- Syracuse Crunch Sign Defenseman Craig Wyszomirski to PTO - Syracuse Crunch
- Comets Sign Forwards Vincent Arseneau and Tanner MacMaster - Utica Comets
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.
