St. Denis helps Bridgeport to its third straight win with overtime winner on Saturday
December 29, 2018 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release
HARTFORD, C onn. - Travis St. Denis scored with less than 34 seconds left in overtime on Saturday as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-9-4-1), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, earned a 3-2 victory against the Hartford Wolf Pack (14-15-2-2) at the XL Center.
It was Bridgeport's third straight win overall and its third in a row against the Wolf Pack as well. Kieffer Bellows and Otto Koivula also found the back of the cage, while Jeremy Smith (11-5-1) made 31 saves, including several timely stops in the third period.
With the win, the Sound Tigers moved one game above .500 on the road for the first time this season and remained three points behind the Charlotte Checkers for the top spot in the AHL (by points).
Bellows' second goal in the last three games put the Sound Tigers on top just 94 seconds into the first period, giving Bridgeport the opening goal for the 11th time in its last 12 games. Ryan Bourque turned along the right-wing boards and opened up space for Bellows, who gathered a pass at the high slot and converted a quick wrister past goaltender Dustin Tokarski for his ninth of the season. Ryan Hitchcock also registered an assist.
It stood as the game's only goal through the first 41 minutes until Hartford answered at 1:41 of the third period courtesy of defenseman Chris Bigras. Following a couple of close calls in the Sound Tigers' zone, the puck skipped out to the top of the left circle where Bigras stepped into a slap shot and wired it over Smith's glove and into the top right corner of the cage. It was Bigras' third goal of the season.
Koivula collected his first of two points on the night when he scored for the second straight game at 9:28 of the third. Chris Bourque jarred the puck free in the neutral zone and St. Denis raced ahead, and over the blue line. He set up a two-on-one rush with Koivula, who finished the play by hammering home a one-timer on a cross-ice feed to make it 2-1.
Seventeen seconds later, Bobby Butler tied the game for a second time with his sixth tally of the season. Bigras earned his second point of the contest with a brilliant diagonal pass across Bridgeport's zone that found Butler near the bottom of the left circle. He guided home a one-time shot to make it 2-2 at the 9:45 mark.
Unable to convert again in regulation, the Sound Tigers went to overtime for the 12th time this season and the third time against Hartford. The contest remained scoreless until the 4:26 mark when Koivula sprung St. Denis for a breakaway, in which the third-year forward made no mistake. He sped straight towards the crease and beat Tokarski's blocker with a forehand shot for his team-leading second overtime winner this season.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play and 2-for-2 on the penalty kill. Hartford outshot Bridgeport 33-32, while Tokarski (7-4-2) made 29 saves in Hartford's second straight setback.
It was Bridgeport's third consecutive one-goal decision and its league-leading 22nd of the year (15-2-4-1).
Next Time Out: The Sound Tigers continue a six-game road trip next Wednesday with their first contest of 2019 - a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Rochester Americans at Blue Cross Arena. Fans can follow all of the live action online via the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHLTV, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.
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), Military Appreciation (Jan. 12), Star Wars Night (Jan. 19) 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 December 29, 2018
- Phantoms Conclude 2018 in Fight-Filled Rivalry Duel - Lehigh Valley Phantoms
- Stars Stay Hot at Home in 5-1 Victory over Ontario - Texas Stars
- Penguins Erupt for 7-3 Win at Lehigh Valley - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins
- Amerks Come up Short to Comets - Rochester Americans
- Crunch Defeat Thunderbirds, 4-3, in Overtime - Syracuse Crunch
- Sens Close out 2018 with Win over Devils - Belleville Senators
- Monsters Earn a Point in 4-3 Shootout Loss to Griffins - Cleveland Monsters
- Wolf Pack Fall in OT - Hartford Wolf Pack
- St. Denis helps Bridgeport to its third straight win with overtime winner on Saturday - Bridgeport Islanders
- Devils Slowed by Senators, 3-2 - Binghamton Devils
- Goloubef Sparks P-Bruins Comeback in Hershey - Providence Bruins
- Eagles Sign DeJong to Professional Tryout Agreement - Colorado Eagles
- Comets Topple North Division Leading Amerks - Utica Comets
- Bruins Rally in Third, Down Bears 4-1 - Hershey Bears
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- Game #30 Preview: Tucson vs. Stockton - Tucson Roadrunners
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- Coyotes Assign Bunting to Tucson - Tucson Roadrunners
- Minnesota Wild Recalls Defenseman Matt Bartkowski from Iowa - Iowa Wild
- Ottawa Recalls Rodewald - Belleville Senators
- Welinski to Anaheim, Sustr Joins San Diego - San Diego Gulls
- Bears Add Two Defenders from South Carolina - Hershey Bears
- Stockton Looks to Even the Score Saturday - Stockton Heat
- Florida Panthers Acquire 2020 Fifth-Round Pick from Toronto - Springfield Thunderbirds
- American Hockey League Announces Suspensions - AHL
- Flames Recall Dillon Dube from Stockton - Stockton Heat
- Ottawa Recalls Elliott and Wolanin - Belleville Senators
- Condors Wizard Night with Specialty Jerseys Tonight - Bakersfield Condors
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- Tampa Bay Lightning Assign Defenseman Slater Koekkoek to Syracuse Crunch for Conditioning Assignment - Syracuse Crunch
- Game Preview: Bruins at Bears, 7 p.m. - Hershey Bears
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- Devils Sign Goaltender Evan Cormier to Amateur Tryout - Binghamton Devils
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