 |
| The Sound Tigers’ Colin McDonald (13) extended his
points streak to four games vs. Utica on Monday night. |
BRIDGEPORT—The Utica Comets, the
American Hockey League affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks scored four
third-period goals to defeat the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, 6-3, before 1,530
fans at Webster Bank Arena on Monday night. Former Quinnipiac star Brogan
Rafferty paced the Comets with a four-point night (1 goal, 3 assists),
while Kieffer Bellows, Nick Schilkey and Jeff Kubiak all scored for the Sound
Tigers.
Justin Bailey put Utica on top at 11:16 of the first period with his ninth goal of the year, which extended his goal-scoring streak to five games – the longest current stretch in the AHL. It also came on the power play with Bode Wilde in the box for tripping. The Comets took advantage when Sven Baertschi zipped a cross-ice pass to the back post for Bailey’s tap in to make it 1-0.
The Sound Tigers got an early response to begin the second period as Colin McDonald guided a pass to the crease for Bellows, who poked it home past Zane McIntyre. It was Bellows’ fourth goal in the last six games, while McDonald extended his point streak to four games at the 2:46 mark. Matt Lorito also notched an assist and improved his point streak to five games (3g, 2a).
Utica answered immediately with another power play opportunity, capitalizing just 46 seconds later with Kole Lind’s first of two goals on the night. Baertschi dropped the puck off for Reid Boucher and he sent it effortlessly from circle to circle where Lind connected on a one-timer to give Utica a one-goal lead at 3:32. It pushed Boucher’s point streak to a team-best seven games.
After a dangerous breakaway for Baertschi about five minutes later, Parker Wotherspoon sprung Ryan Bourque in stride the other way for a scoring chance that made it 2-2. Bourque dished the puck to Jeff Kubiak for a breakaway, beating McIntyre low for his second goal of the season.
With just 3:15 left in the middle frame, Schilkey extended his goal streak to three straight games to give Bridgeport its first lead. Otto Koivula found Schilkey in the right circle, where his wrist shot did not miss to make it 3-2. Tom Kuhnhackl also added an assist for his second point of his conditioning loan.
However, Utica handed the Sound Tigers their first loss when leading after two periods this season (6-1-0-0) by scoring four unanswered goals to win 6-3. Three of those goals came in a span of 2:03, including Nikolay Goldobin’s ninth of the year at 4:37. Lukas Jasek followed with his fifth of the season at 6:05 and Lind netted the Comets’ third power-play goal just 35 seconds later.
Rafferty put the exclamation point on the contest at 11:06 of the third period when he wacked home his third goal of the season from an impossible angle, directly along the extended goal line, assisted by Boucher and Jasek.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-6 on the penalty kill. Jared Coreau (2-7-1) made 27 saves on 33 shots, while McIntyre stopped 28 of 31. The game also included one fight when Koivula dropped the gloves with Guillaume Brisebois at 6:12 of the third period.
With the loss, Bridgeport fell to 9-14-3-1, while Utica improved to 14-9-1-2. It also snapped the Sound Tigers’ three-game home winning streak and dropped them to 1-1-0-0 against the Comets this season.
The Sound Tigers now embark on a two-game road trip this weekend, heading to upstate New York for a rematch with the Comets in Utica on Friday, then on to Hershey, Pa., for a hookup with the Hershey Bears.
Sound Tigers season tickets and flex plans are on sale now for the 2019-20 campaign, including full-season, 20-game, or 10-game plans. All offer exclusive benefits, including the ticket holder exchange policy. For more info, contact Brad Dworin at 203-345-4813 or via email at brad.dworin@harboryardse.com.
Autograph Sessions Announced
The Sound Tigers will host two post-game autograph sessions at Webster Bank Arena this season, giving fans the opportunity to meet future Isles players up close and personal. Each session is presented by Milford Photo. Sound Tigers players will be available for pictures and autographs in the Webster Bank A atrium following home games on Saturday, Dec. 28, vs. the Springfield Thunderbirds and Saturday, Mar. 21 vs. the Charlotte Checkers. Faceoff for both games is at 7 p.m. The team will be separated into pairs, with even numbers signing on Dec. 28 and the odd numbers signing on Mar. 21. Player availability is subject to change.
Tickets to either (or both) of these games will include access to the post-game autograph sessions. Tickets are available by clicking HERE, or visiting the Webster Bank Arena Click It or Ticket Box Office.
The Mar. 21 contest wll also feature Girls Hockey Celebration Night, in partnership with Fairfield native and former Team USA Olympic captain Julie Chu. Webster Bank Arena will host the country’s first-ever girls hockey celebration on Saturday, Mar. 21 and Sunday, Mar. 22, inviting women’s teams throughout the Northeast. For more information, please call Tarah Kelly at 203-345-4859 or email Tarah.Kelly@harboryardse.com.
Justin Bailey put Utica on top at 11:16 of the first period with his ninth goal of the year, which extended his goal-scoring streak to five games – the longest current stretch in the AHL. It also came on the power play with Bode Wilde in the box for tripping. The Comets took advantage when Sven Baertschi zipped a cross-ice pass to the back post for Bailey’s tap in to make it 1-0.
The Sound Tigers got an early response to begin the second period as Colin McDonald guided a pass to the crease for Bellows, who poked it home past Zane McIntyre. It was Bellows’ fourth goal in the last six games, while McDonald extended his point streak to four games at the 2:46 mark. Matt Lorito also notched an assist and improved his point streak to five games (3g, 2a).
Utica answered immediately with another power play opportunity, capitalizing just 46 seconds later with Kole Lind’s first of two goals on the night. Baertschi dropped the puck off for Reid Boucher and he sent it effortlessly from circle to circle where Lind connected on a one-timer to give Utica a one-goal lead at 3:32. It pushed Boucher’s point streak to a team-best seven games.
After a dangerous breakaway for Baertschi about five minutes later, Parker Wotherspoon sprung Ryan Bourque in stride the other way for a scoring chance that made it 2-2. Bourque dished the puck to Jeff Kubiak for a breakaway, beating McIntyre low for his second goal of the season.
With just 3:15 left in the middle frame, Schilkey extended his goal streak to three straight games to give Bridgeport its first lead. Otto Koivula found Schilkey in the right circle, where his wrist shot did not miss to make it 3-2. Tom Kuhnhackl also added an assist for his second point of his conditioning loan.
However, Utica handed the Sound Tigers their first loss when leading after two periods this season (6-1-0-0) by scoring four unanswered goals to win 6-3. Three of those goals came in a span of 2:03, including Nikolay Goldobin’s ninth of the year at 4:37. Lukas Jasek followed with his fifth of the season at 6:05 and Lind netted the Comets’ third power-play goal just 35 seconds later.
Rafferty put the exclamation point on the contest at 11:06 of the third period when he wacked home his third goal of the season from an impossible angle, directly along the extended goal line, assisted by Boucher and Jasek.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 0-for-5 on the power play and 3-for-6 on the penalty kill. Jared Coreau (2-7-1) made 27 saves on 33 shots, while McIntyre stopped 28 of 31. The game also included one fight when Koivula dropped the gloves with Guillaume Brisebois at 6:12 of the third period.
With the loss, Bridgeport fell to 9-14-3-1, while Utica improved to 14-9-1-2. It also snapped the Sound Tigers’ three-game home winning streak and dropped them to 1-1-0-0 against the Comets this season.
The Sound Tigers now embark on a two-game road trip this weekend, heading to upstate New York for a rematch with the Comets in Utica on Friday, then on to Hershey, Pa., for a hookup with the Hershey Bears.
Sound Tigers season tickets and flex plans are on sale now for the 2019-20 campaign, including full-season, 20-game, or 10-game plans. All offer exclusive benefits, including the ticket holder exchange policy. For more info, contact Brad Dworin at 203-345-4813 or via email at brad.dworin@harboryardse.com.
Autograph Sessions Announced
The Sound Tigers will host two post-game autograph sessions at Webster Bank Arena this season, giving fans the opportunity to meet future Isles players up close and personal. Each session is presented by Milford Photo. Sound Tigers players will be available for pictures and autographs in the Webster Bank A atrium following home games on Saturday, Dec. 28, vs. the Springfield Thunderbirds and Saturday, Mar. 21 vs. the Charlotte Checkers. Faceoff for both games is at 7 p.m. The team will be separated into pairs, with even numbers signing on Dec. 28 and the odd numbers signing on Mar. 21. Player availability is subject to change.
Tickets to either (or both) of these games will include access to the post-game autograph sessions. Tickets are available by clicking HERE, or visiting the Webster Bank Arena Click It or Ticket Box Office.
The Mar. 21 contest wll also feature Girls Hockey Celebration Night, in partnership with Fairfield native and former Team USA Olympic captain Julie Chu. Webster Bank Arena will host the country’s first-ever girls hockey celebration on Saturday, Mar. 21 and Sunday, Mar. 22, inviting women’s teams throughout the Northeast. For more information, please call Tarah Kelly at 203-345-4859 or email Tarah.Kelly@harboryardse.com.
—Staff Reports
#soundtigers / @TheSoundTigers / #AHL / @TheAHL
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