AHL Bridgeport Islanders

Three-Game Series on Tap against T-Birds, Penguins

Published on November 2, 2018 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Bridgeport Islanders News Release


BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (4-4-1), proud AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, navigate their second "three-games-in-three-days" series this weekend with matchups against the Springfield Thunderbirds (6-0-0-2) and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (5-2-0-1).

The action begins tonight with Bridgeport's first trip to MassMutual Center this season where the club will face the red-hot Springfield Thunderbirds at 7:05 p.m. in a battle of Atlantic Division rivals. The series then shifts back to Webster Bank Arena for a Saturday-Sunday doubleheader starting with a 7 p.m. rematch against the Thunderbirds and ending with a 3 p.m. contest against the Penguins. The Sound Tigers are looking to bounce back following a 6-1 loss at Providence last Sunday, in which Seth Helgeson scored Bridgeport's only goal.

PEPPA PIG AND THE PJ MASKS

The Sound Tigers are excited to welcome Peppa Pig and the PJ Masks to Webster Bank Arena this Sunday! The cheeky Peppa Pig and her brother George, from the hit Nickelodeon television show Peppa Pig, will join everyone's favorite heroes from the hit Disney Junior show PJ Masks on the concourse beginning at 2 p.m. Each character will meet fans and take pictures.

All fans are also encouraged to take advantage of a special ticket package that offers significant value for this added promotional event, including access to the game, a toy mask to wear, an activity packet, a pack of crayons, and entry to a pre-game meet-and-greet with Peppa Pig, George and the PJ Masks beginning a full hour earlier at 1 p.m. Additional meet and greets will be available during the game for regular ticket holders. For tickets or more information, please contact the Sound Tigers group sales hotline at 203-345-2300 ext. 7.

LISTEN ON RADIO: www.bit.ly/BSTRadio

WATCH AHLTV: www.theahl.com/ahltv

TIGERS VS. T-BIRDS

Tonight's game features the first of 10 meetings between the Sound Tigers and Thunderbirds this season, and the first of five in Massachusetts. Bridgeport went 4-6-0-0 against Springfield last year, but suffered five losses at MassMutual Center (0-5-0-0) including a 5-0 setback in their last tilt on Mar. 30, 2018. In fact, MassMutual Center has been a house of horrors for the Sound Tigers, who have lost six straight contests there dating back to 2016-17. Bridgeport's last win in Springfield was Mar. 29, 2017 (3-2 victory).

VIEW FROM SPRINGFIELD

Geordie Kinnear's club is undefeated in regulation through its first eight games (6-0-0-2) with an impressive 3-0-0-1 record both at home and on the road. The T-Birds are also on a five-game win streak entering the weekend and a three-game win streak at MassMutual Center. Last time out, Henrik Borgstrom and Dryden Hunt each scored twice in a 6-2 victory against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Sunday, backstopped by Chris Driedger's 28 saves. Four of Springfield's six goals came on the power play and the Thunderbirds now rank fourth in the AHL on the man advantage (27.9%). Borgstrom was named the CCM /AHL Rookie of the Month on Thursday after registering four goals and seven assists (11 points) during October.

TIGERS VS. PENGUINS

Sunday's 3 p.m. contest will mark the first of six matchups between the Sound Tigers and Penguins this season, and the first of three at Webster Bank Arena. Bridgeport went 3-2-1-0 against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last year, including a 1-2-0-0 record on home ice. The Penguins earned a 5-2 win in their last head-to-head tilt on Apr. 8, 2018 in the Park City.

VIEW FROM WILKES-BARRE

The third-place Penguins have recorded points in back-to-back games as the club enters its first "three-in-three" this weekend. Last time out, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton suffered a 5-4 shootout loss on the road last Saturday, despite goals from Zach Aston-Reese, Teddy Blueger and Ethan Prow against the Hershey Bears. Blueger now leads the Penguins with four goal this season, while captain Garrett Wilson paces the team with seven points (three goals, four assists) in eight games. In addition, goaltender Anthony Peters is ninth in the AHL with a 2.22 goals-against-average. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton hosts the Hartford Wolf Pack this Friday and Saturday prior to Sunday's tilt in Bridgeport.

BERN BABY BURN

Fourteenth-year forward Steve Bernier has scored three goals in his last three games and currently leads the Sound Tigers with five goals this season. Three of those five have come on the power play and Bernier also leads the club with two game-winners. A veteran of 637 NHL contests, Bernier has received heavy minutes on Bridgeport's top line this season and now has 42 goals in 105 games with the Sound Tigers. He is eight away from David Ullstrom (2010-13) for 10th place on the team's all-time goal-scoring list.

KUHNHACKL LOANED TO BRIDGEPORT

The Sound Tigers received two-time Stanley Cup Champion Tom Kuhnhackl on Thursday when the 26-year-old was loaned to Bridgeport by the Islanders. Kuhnhackl played four games with the Isles this season, scoring once against his former team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, last Tuesday. Kuhnhackl, who signed a one-year deal with the Islanders on July 2, has 172 games of National Hockey League experience with the Penguins and Islanders, and another 154 games of AHL experience with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. His last AHL game was Jan. 5, 2016 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

SLIMMEST OF MARGINS

Six of Bridgeport's nine games have been decided by just a single goal, including last Saturday's 5-4 win at Hartford. That leads the Eastern Conference and is second to the Milwaukee Admirals for the most in the AHL overall. The Sound Tigers are 4-1-1-0 in one-goal outcomes this season.

NOTABLE NUMBERS

More than a handful of Sound Tigers are approaching a milestone heading into November, all of which could be achieved this month. Those include: Brent Thompson is seven wins away from his 200th AHL/Sound Tigers victory... Jeremy Smith is one appearance shy of his 300th in the AHL... Chris Bourque is five points away from his 700th in the AHL... Kyle Burroughs is eight appearances away from his 200th AHL game played... Mike Sislo is 11 appearances shy of his 400th in the AHL... Michael Dal Colle's next game will be his 150th pro contest.

QUICK HITS

Bridgeport's penalty kill is 16-for-18 on the road this season (88.9%), tied for fifth in the AHL... The Sound Tigers' two wins when trailing after two periods this season are second in the League, trailing only Rochester (three)... Seth Helgeson has points in back-to-back games for the first time since last March... He hasn't had points in three straight since Feb, 2015... Michael Dal Colle is expected to return to the lineup this weekend after missing two games with a lower-body injury...Goaltender Mitch Gillam was recalled from the Worcester Railers (ECHL) on Wednesday and will look to make his AHL debut this weekend.

AFFILIATE REPORT

NHL: New York Islanders (6-4-1): Next vs. NJ, Tomorrow at 7 pm ET

ECHL: Worcester Railers (3-3-0-0): Next vs. ADK, Tonight at 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 2, 2018


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