Sound Tigers, T-Birds Set for Rematch Tonight

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers will look to avenge Saturday's 5-2 loss to
the Springfield Thunderbirds tonight at the Webster Bank Arena.

BRIDGEPORT– The Bridgeport Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, will have revenge on their minds when they host the Springfield Thunderbirds at the Arena at Harbor Yard this evening. The Tigers will be hoping to avenge a 5-2 loss to the T-Birds at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on Saturday. To follow the game live online, please click here: Watch/Listen - Twitter

Tonight’s game will conclude an eight-game homestand for the 26-16-1-1 Sound Tigers. In Saturday’s matchup, Springfield’s Kyle Rau recorded the first hat trick in T-Birds’ history. The loss snapped Bridgeport’s eight-game win streak. Tanner Fritz and Kyle Burroughs each scored for the Sound Tigers. Bridgeport enters tonight’s game in fifth place in the Atlantic Division, just .003 percentage points behind the Hershey Bears. Springfield is 17-20-6-2.

HOCKEY HAPPY HOUR

Fans 21 and older are invited to take advantage of $5 beers at all first floor concession stands during tonight’s game. In addition, $1 hot dogs will be available, and a $2 discount on game tickets will be offered to those fans showing AAA membership cards. Doors open at 6 p.m.

SEASON SERIES

Tonight’s game marks the ninth of 12 meetings between the Sound Tigers and T-Birds this season, and the fifth of six matchups at Webster Bank Arena. Bridgeport has registered points in five of the previous eight meetings (4-3-0-1), including a 5-3 win on Jan. 20. Bracken Kearns leads the Sound Tigers effort vs. Springfield with nine points (six goals, three assists) in the eight previous meetings.

VIEW FROM I-91N

Geordie Kinnear’s club has dropped three of its last four games. The T-Birds currently rank sixth in the Atlantic Division, and 11th in the Eastern Conference. Besides Kyle Rau, Juho Lammikko and Anthony Greco also scored in Springfield’s 5-2 win on Saturday, while netminder Reto Berra turned 25 Bridgeport shots to pick up his team-leading 10th victory of the season. Springfield’s leading scorer, Chase Balisy, was quiet for the sixth straight game, but continues to pace the club with 16 assists and 23 points.

INSTA-GRAHAM

Third-year defenseman Jesse Graham was reassigned from the Missouri Mavericks (ECHL) by the New York Islanders on Monday, which became Bridgeport’s first transaction since Scott Mayfield was recalled to the Islanders on Jan. 12—a 25-day stretch. Graham returns to the Sound Tigers with seven points (one goal, six assists) in seven AHL games this season, and is on a team-high four-game point streak (Nov. 29 - Dec. 11, 2016).

FRITZ HEATING UP

Ohio State University product Tanner Fritz has scored in back-to-back games for the third time this season, and will look for his first career three-game goal streak tonight. The second-year pro currently ranks third on the Sound Tigers in goals with 13, and fifth in points (26) this season. 


Kyle Burroughs (pictured) will be looking to play in his 100th professional
game on Saturday night when the Sound Tigers host the Providence Bruins.

HITTING THE CENTURY MARK

Islanders prospect Kyle Burroughs is likely to play in his 100th game of his professional hockey career this Saturday when the Sound Tigers play host to the Providence Bruins. The second-year defenseman scored his first goal of the season last Saturday in Springfield vs. the Thunderbirds, and is now on a three-game point-scoring streak (one goal, two assists). Burroughs is second among Sound Tigers’ defensemen with 11 assists this year. He has 29 points (four goals, 25 assists) in 97 pro games since his debut on Apr. 1, 2014 against Springfield. 

COMMANDING THE CREASE

Veteran goaltender Jaroslav Halak has started six of Bridgeport’s last eight games dating back to Jan. 20.  During that span, the 31-year-old is 6-0-0 with a 1.95 goals-against-average and .927 save percentage. Halak, a 2015 NHL All-Star, has also allowed just two goals or less in each of his last four starts.

THINK PINK

The Sound Tigers will honor and pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer at this Saturday’s game against Providence. Many breast cancer survivors will be recognized throughout the night and the first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a free Pink in the Rink rally towel. In addition, a special wine tasting event will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. at Webster Bank Arena benefiting the American Cancer Society and Cancer Couch Foundation. The pregame event includes access to the tasting party, a ticket to the game and a souvenir Sound Tigers tasting glass. Players and their families will also be putting together baskets to raffle off on the concourse with proceeds going back those charities. Click here for more information. Doors open at 6 p.m. 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.

QUICK HITS

Travis St. Denis leads the Sound Tigers with four game-winning goals, which also places him in a tie for the league lead among rookies… Devon Toews is tied for second among AHL rookies with 23 assists and tied for 12th among league defensemen with 27 points… Steve Bernier is tied for third in the AHL with nine power-play goals. 

AFFILIATE REPORT

NHL: New York Islanders (23-18-9): Next at Philadelphia - Thursday, 7 p.m. ET

ECHL: Missouri Mavericks (20-19-2-5): Next vs. Wichita - Tonight, 8:05 p.m. ET