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AHL Bridgeport Islanders

St. Denis, Bourque each score twice in penalty-filled affair on Sunday

March 25, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


WILKES-BARRE, Penn. - Travis St. Denis and Ryan Bourque each scored twice on Sunday to lead the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (32-26-5-3), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, to a convincing 6-3 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (38-20-6-2) in a penalty-filled affair at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Ryan Hitchcock added his first professional goal and Steve Bernier also beat goaltender Tristan Jarry as the Sound Tigers snapped their three-game slide and beat the Penguins for the second time this season (2-1-1-0). Between the pipes, Pennsylvania native Eamon McAdam made 24 saves to earn his fourth victory (3-1-0) in six AHL appearances this year.

The contest included 17 combined power plays and 74 total penalty minutes, highlighted by a pair of second period fights between Tom Sestito against Yanick Turcotte, and Ben Holmstrom versus Garrett Wilson. The Sound Tigers went 3-for-11 on the power play (setting a season high for most power-play opportunities in a game) and 4-for-6 on the penalty kill.

The victory moved Bridgeport to within nine points of the final playoff spot in the Atlantic Division. The Sound Tigers continue to trail the fourth-place Charlotte Checkers with 10 contests remaining, but have two games in hand.

Hitchcock opened the scoring within the first nine minutes and celebrated his first pro goal in just his sixth outing. St. Denis grabbed the puck in the neutral zone and created a rush over the blue line before sliding a cross-ice pass to Hitchcock down the left wing. The Yale University product toe-dragged to the slot and fired his first shot off defenseman Kevin Czuczman, then capitalized on the second effort by beating Jarry's blocker at 8:57.

St. Denis and Hitchcock teamed up again at the 16:56 mark, this time on the power play, to make it 2-0. With former Sound Tiger Andrey Pedan in the box for cross-checking, Casey Bailey carried the puck down the right wing and to the side of the cage where he found Hitchcock out front. The rookie forward quickly elevated a shot off the crossbar that jumped back to St. Denis for his first of two power-play goals on the afternoon.

Bourque took charge early in the middle frame and scored each of the next two goals, but it followed a rough beginning to the period as the fifth-year netminder took a high-stick to the face in the opening three minutes. Ryan Haggerty went to the box and served a four-minute double minor, but the Sound Tigers failed to score. However, Bourque made up for it at 4:53 when he netted his 11th goal of the season shortly after returning from the dressing room. Mitch Vande Sompel carried the puck over the blue line and dropped a pass to Bourque in the right circle, where the latter scored on a wrist shot past Jarry's glove. Holmstrom was also credited with an assist.

Less than five minutes later, Penguins' forward Josh Jooris tripped Sebastian Aho behind the Sound Tigers' net and Bourque converted on the power play to make it 4-0. John Stevens held the puck below the goal line and waited for a lane to open before guiding a pass to the crease where Bourque nudged it home. Holmstrom nabbed another secondary helper at the 9:40 mark.

Chris Summers put Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on the board late in the second period to cut Bridgeport's lead back to three. The Penguins had been knocking at the door following a tripping penalty against St. Denis, but couldn't pull through until Summers wired a one-time shot through traffic at 15:39. Christian Thomas angled a pass off the left-wing wall to Summers at the point, where the defenseman stepped into a shot that became his first goal of the season.

Just 83 seconds later, Bernier regained the Sound Tigers' four-goal lead with his 16th tally of the year. Kellen Jones found Aho down the right wing and the first-year defenseman forced a back-door feed, which Bernier tapped home past Jarry's outstretch right pad.

The Penguins made things interesting early in the third period with back-to-back power-play goals within a span of 38 seconds. Following penalties to Aho (hooking) and Seth Helgeson (tripping), which were staggered by 52 seconds, Jean-Sebastian Dea scored at 5-on-3 for his 15th goal of the season. Haggerty and Wilson played catch on the right wing to open up Dea in the slot, where the fourth-year forward connected on a one-time rip to make it 5-2 at the 3:07 mark.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton also converted on the back half of that power play when Pedan unloaded on a drive from above the left circle that sailed past McAdam's glove. It was Pedan's ninth goal of the season at 3:45, which made it 5-3.

The Sound Tigers and Penguins traded several more opportunities on the man advantage as the third period rolled along, but couldn't convert until St. Denis capped the scoring with an empty-net, power-play goal in the final 10 seconds. Aho and Bernier chipped the puck ahead to St. Denis, who skated directly at the open cage and finished with a "slam dunk" from the crease for his team-best 22nd goal this season. It also ended another three-point night for St. Denis (two goals, one assist), giving him a team-leading 41 points (22 goals, 19 assists) this year.

Bridgeport outshot Wilkes-Barre/Scranton 31-27, while Jarry (6-3-2) made 25 saves in the Penguins setback.

Dinner and a Show: Take advantage of $1 hot dogs presented by Hummel Bros. and $5 draft beers for those 21 and older, courtesy of Budweiser, when the Sound Tigers return to Webster Bank Arena to battle the Hershey Bears this Wednesday, Mar. 28 at 7 p.m. Both terrific concession specials will be offered at all first-level concession stands throughout the evening. Great seats are available now!

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!

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