AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Sound Tigers Ready for Post-Thanksgiving â??Three-In-Three

Published on November 23, 2018 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (11-5-2-0), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, return to the ice for a post-Thanksgiving "three-in-three" against the Hartford Wolf Pack (8-9-1-2) and Springfield Thunderbirds (9-4-0-2) this weekend, beginning tonight with a 7 p.m. matchup against Hartford at Webster Bank Arena. The series continues tomorrow night in Hartford and concludes Sunday afternoon in the Park City. Bridgeport enters the weekend tied for third in the AHL with 24 points and will try to extend two significant streaks this evening: a season-long eight-game unbeaten in regulation streak (7-0-1-0) and a six-game points streak at home (6-0-1-0).

LAST TIME OUT

The Sound Tigers completed a three-game road trip last Saturday with a 2-1 victory against the Belleville Senators at CAA Arena. Ontario native Mitch Vande Sompel scored once and added an assist, while Scott Eansor's first goal of the season stood as the game-winner. Christopher Gibson (6-3-1) backstopped the win with 28 saves on 29 shots for his team-leading sixth victory this year.

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TOSS THOSE TEDDY BEARS

The Sound Tigers are hosting Teddy Bear Toss" tonight at Webster Bank Arena! Teddy Bear Toss is a unique and highly-entertaining opportunity to give back during the holiday season, where fans are asked to bring new stuffed animals, or other soft toys, and toss them onto the ice when the Sound Tigers score their first goal. Anyone who brings a new stuffed animal or other soft toy will receive $5 off their box office ticket this evening. The toys will be collected and donated to the Connecticut Education Foundation (CEF) for its holiday gift-giving project, which has benefited more than 10,000 Connecticut public school students since it began in 1998.

TIGERS VS. WOLF PACK

Tonight's game marks the third of 10 meetings between the Sound Tigers and Wolf Pack this season, and the first of five at Webster Bank Arena. Bridgeport is 1-0-1-0 against Hartford this year, but suffered a 4-3 loss in overtime last Wednesday at the XL Center. John Gilmour scored twice for the Wolf Pack, including the game-winner 23 seconds into overtime, while Tanner Fritz had two goals (both on the power play) and Devon Toews had two assists for the Sound Tigers. Tonight's matchup is also the first game in a home-and-home series between the in-state rivals, which concludes tomorrow night in Hartford.

VIEW FROM HARTFORD

The Wolf Pack have won three of their last four games, but currently rank sixth in the Atlantic Division with 19 points in 20 games this season. On Wednesday, Vinni Lettieri scored at 3:30 of overtime to lift Hartford to a 4-3 victory against the Providence Bruins in the conclusion of a five-game homestand. Former Bruin Matt Beleskey also scored twice and Shawn O'Donnell netted his fourth goal of the season, while Dustin Tokarski made 27 saves. Leading scorer Peter Holland added an assist and is now second in the AHL with 15 helpers this season, tied with Josh Ho-Sang and Iowa's Cal O'Reilly. Holland is tied for 17th in the AHL overall with 17 points in 20 games this season.

TIGERS VS. T-BIRDS

Sunday's 3 p.m. contest will mark the third of 10 meetings between the Sound Tigers and Thunderbirds this season, and the second of five at Webster Bank Arena. It also begins a stretch of three games in eight days between the division rivals. The series is currently knotted at 1-1-0-0, with the Sound Tigers taking their last tilt on Nov. 3. Tom Kuhnhackl led the way with two goals and three points that night, as Bridgeport handed Springfield its first regulation loss of the season. Jeremy Smith backstopped the win with 24 saves.

VIEW FROM SPRINGFIELD

The third-place T-Birds have won two games in a row entering this weekend's action. Following a 9-3 win against the Rochester Americans last Friday, in which Springfield scored a whopping seven times in the second period, the club edged out the Lehigh Valley Phantoms for a 3-2 victory on Saturday. 2018 AHL All-Star Michael Hutchinson earned the win with 29 saves between the pipes, while Jake Horton, Joel Lowry and Michael Haley all scored for the Thunderbirds. Paul Thompson added an assist and continues to lead Springfield with 16 points (10 goals, six assists) this season.

TOEWS TAKING CHARGE

Devon Toews is making a strong case for his first true recall to the National Hockey League. The 2017 AHL All-Star has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in his last nine games and continues to pace Bridgeport with 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 18 outings this season. Toews is fourth among all AHL blue-liners in scoring and is tied for 15th overall. In addition, Toews is tied for the team lead in power-play points (10), which is also tied for second among AHL defensemen.

BELLOW BUILDING IN BRIDGEPORT

Kieffer Bellows, the NY Islanders' 19th overall pick in 2016, continues to turn heads as he begins his pro career. The 20-year-old is second on the Sound Tigers in goal-scoring (six), third on the club in shots (40), and converted on his first career shootout attempt last Friday, which stood as the game-winner against Laval. At home, Bellows has scored in four straight games (five goals), looking to extend that mark tonight.

WINNING AT WEBSTER

The Sound Tigers return to Webster Bank Arena for a pair of home games this weekend, where the club is currently on a seven-game point streak (6-0-1-0). In fact, Bridgeport hasn't lost in regulation at home since a 4-3 setback to Rochester on Oct. 13 (home opener). The Sound Tigers have outscored opponents 42-29 at home this season, including a 29-16 mark over their last five games.

QUICK HITS

The Sound Tigers have been involved in 11 one-goal outcomes this season, tied for second-most in the AHL... Bridgeport is 7-2-2-0 when games are decided by a single tally... Bridgeport has nine wins when scoring first this season (9-1-0-0), tied for second-most in the AHL... The Sound Tigers are 4-0-0-0 when Devon Toews has a multi-point performance... Jeff Kubiak has seven points (2g, 5a) in his last seven games... Scott Eansor's first goal of the season on Saturday came in his second game back after missing 11 contests with a lower-body injury... Josh Ho-Sang is tied for second in the AHL with 15 assists.

AFFILIATE REPORT

NHL: New York Islanders (10-8-2): Next at New Jersey, Today (4 p.m. ET)

ECHL: Worcester Railers (6-8-2-0): Next vs. Manchester, Tonight (7:05 p.m. ET)

Packed Promotional Lineup: The Sound Tigers will 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 (Nov. 23 and Mar. 17), Military Appreciation (Jan. 12), Star Wars Night (Jan. 19) and Princess Night (Mar. 30). Regional hockey fans will be elated for the addition of Hockey Weekend in Connecticut (Feb. 23-24), while other new headliners include Holiday Gift Weekend (Dec. 15-16) and a revamped Teddy Bear Toss (Nov. 23). 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.

Check out the Bridgeport Islanders Statistics

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American Hockey League Stories from November 23, 2018


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