AHL Bridgeport Islanders

The Sound Tigers Report: Week 5

Published on November 15, 2016 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - Two similar results last weekend helped the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (8-4-0-0) earn four points in a pair of road games against the Syracuse Crunch and Hershey Bears. The Sound Tigers are now 5-1-0-0 away from Webster Bank Arena this season and have jumped to third place in the Atlantic Division standings.

On Friday, the Jones' twins became the first pair of brothers to each score in the same AHL game since January 14, 2005, guiding the Sound Tigers to a 3-2 shootout win over Syracuse at Oncenter War Memorial Arena. The Crunch made things interesting late with two goals in the final four minutes of regulation, but Bracken Kearns and Carter Verhaeghe both scored in a four-round shootout to seal the victory.

Twenty-four hours later, Bridgeport earned another shootout win with a 4-3 decision over the Hershey Bears at the GIANT Center. Andrew Rowe notched the only goal in three-round shootout, while Verhaeghe, Scott Mayfield (recalled by the New York Islanders on Monday) and Steve Bernier all scored in regulation. Between the pipes, Stephon Williams (2-4-0-0) made a career-high 35 saves to record his second win in as many nights. In addition, Bridgeport went 9-for-9 on the penalty kill and improved to 3-0-0-0 in games that finish beyond regulation this season.

The Sound Tigers will go for their first three-game win streak of the season on Friday when they open a three-game weekend series against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The Week Ahead

Bridgeport at W-B/Scranton Penguins (10-2-1-0) - Fri, Nov. 18 at 7:05 p.m.

Bridgeport vs. Lehigh Valley Phantoms (8-3-1-0) - Sat, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m.

Bridgeport vs. Binghamton Senators (3-7-0-1) - Sun, Nov. 20 at 3 p.m.

News and Notes

Road Warriors: The Sound Tigers have won four straight games away from Webster Bank Arena and improved their road record to 5-1-0-0, the team's best to start a season in more than 10 years. Bridgeport has outscored opponents 24-17 on the road this season.

Commanding the Crease: Second-year goaltender Stephon Williams earned his first two wins of the season last weekend, making 59 saves on 64 shots in regulation and allowing just one goal on seven combined shootout attempts. In his last outing on Saturday, the 23-year-old faced a career-high 38 shots against Hershey and made a career-best 35 saves. Williams was initially selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Down But Not Out: The Sound Tigers' penalty kill has consistently been one of the best in the AHL to start the season. Bridgeport's PK combined to go 13-for-14 last weekend, including a season-best 9-for-9 on Saturday, and is now fourth-best in the league at 88.4-percent. The Sound Tigers are also tied for second in the AHL with three shorthanded goals scored. The Charlotte Checkers lead the league with four.

Quick Hits: The Sound Tigers are 7-0-0-0 this season when Bracken Kearns has a point and 6-0-0-0 when scoring first in a game... Pat Cullity is one game from his 400th professional appearance... Michael Dal Colle is tied for the league lead among rookies with two game-winning goals... Kyle Burroughs is fifth among AHL defensemen with 34 penalty minutes... This weekend will mark Bridgeport's second "three-in-three" of the season.

Affiliate Report

The New York Islanders (5-8-1-2) dropped a 4-0 decision to the Tampa Bay Lightning at Barclays Center on Monday, marking the first time the team has been shut out this season. Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped all 34 shots he faced, while JT Brown, Ryan Callahan, Nikita Kucherov and Vladislav Namestnikov all scored for Tampa Bay. Overall, former Sound Tiger Brock Nelson is tied for the Islanders' team-lead with seven assists and is second on the club with 11 points, one behind captain John Taveras. New York returns to action on Friday to face the Pittsburgh Penguins at home.

The ECHL's Missouri Mavericks suffered a pair of losses to the Fort Wayne Komets in Independence, MO last weekend, dropping to 3-7-0-1 on the season. On Friday, Islanders prospect Jesse Graham was one of four scorers for the Mavericks, but it wasn't enough in a 6-4 setback. Graham is now tied for the team-lead with 10 points and paces Missouri with eight assists. On Saturday, goaltender Eric Hartzell, who attended training camp with the Sound Tigers last month, made 30 saves on 31 shots for the Komets in a 6-1 decision.

Next Time Out: The Sound Tigers open a three-game weekend series on Friday with a 7:05 p.m. puck drop against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Mohegan Sun Arena. Fans can follow all of the live action via the team's online broadcast at AHLlive.com .

Hockey and Hops: The Sound Tigers are combining hockey and hops on Saturday, November 25th when the team battles Wilkes-Barre/Scranton at 7 p.m. Try the area's best craft beers before the game with a special ticket package that night only. Get access to the game, the pre-game beer tasting party and a souvenir Sound Tigers beer tasting glass for just $25.

For additional details or to reserve seats for any of the 2016-17 giveaway and theme nights, please call the Sound Tigers' front office at (203) 345-2300.

Executive suites and premium seat packages are also available by calling the team's front office at (203) 345-4841. If you are interested in group outings with your friends, family, co-workers, or clients an unforgettable experience at a discounted rate, call the group sales hotline at (203) 345-2300 Ext. 7.

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American Hockey League Stories from November 15, 2016


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