Islanders Top Rangers in Bridgeport

By Bob Phillips

The New York Islanders and New York Rangers squared off in Bridgeport
in a preseason game on Saturday. The Islanders skated off with a 5-2 win.

BRIDGEPORT—Whenever the New York Islanders play the New York Rangers, what transpires on the ice is the NHL version of the Civil War. Both teams play their home games within the borders of New York City—the Isles at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and Rangers at Madison Square Garden. In addition, both franchises locate their top minor league affiliates in the Nutmeg State—the Isles in Bridgeport (the Sound Tigers), and the Rangers in Hartford (the Wolf Pack). It was only logical, then, that the two teams would choose to hook up in Connecticut for a preseason game, and so it was that the Islanders stopped the Rangers, 5-2, at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport on Saturday night.

Four different Islanders—Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Baily, Anders Lee and Ryan Pulock found the back of the net, while Thomas Greiss played a strong game between the pipes, stopping 27 of the 29 shots he faced. In addition, the 31-year-old German native, who was selected in the third round in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks, played all 60 minutes in net for the home team.

(The Islanders were designated as home team in this battle since the game was played in the Sound Tigers’ home arena.)

Beauvillier scored two goals, and Josh Bailey had a goal and two helpers, while Jordan Eberle, Mathew Barzal and Parker Wotherspoon each had two assists for the Islanders.

Cody McLeod gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead 6:41 into the first period. Beauvillier tied it 1-1 at 17:55.

Bailey made it 2-1 46 seconds into the second period, and Anders Lee increased the lead to 3-1 at 12:46, each on the power play. Beauvillier scored at 18:26 for a 3-1 lead, and Ryan Spooner's power-play goal at 19:59 brought the Rangers within 3-2.

Ryan Pulock made it 5-2 at 8:05 of the third period.

Thomas Greiss made 27 saves for the Islanders. Alexandar Georgiev started for the Rangers and made 17 saves on 20 shots. Dustin Tokarski relieved and made 10 saves on 12 shots.

The Islanders special teams had a solid evening, going 2-for-4 on the power play and 3-for-4 on the penalty kill. The archrivals will go at it again on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

Sound Tigers-Wolf Pack Preseason Game

The Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Hartford Wolf Pack, in-
state arch-rivals, will face each other on Sat., Oct.

Meanwhile, on the AHL front, the Sound Tigers and Wolf Pack now prepare for play a preseason match-up on Saturday. The game will be played at the Koeppel Community Sports Center on the campus of Trinity College in Hartford, and first puck drops at 1 p.m. Originally, a game was also scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m. as well, but that game has been cancelled.

The contest is open to the public, with a suggested $5 donation to the Ryan Gordon/Hartford Wolf Pack Community Scholars Fund in lieu of an admission charge. The fund memorializes young fan Ryan Gordon, who passed away in 2006 and asked that a portion of the monies set aside for his college education be donated to the Hartford Wolf Pack Community Foundation.

The Sound Tigers will open their 18th AHL season on Saturday, Oct. 6 with a road matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Allentown, Penn. Bridgeport's home opener is set for Saturday, Oct. 13 at 1 p.m. against the Rochester Americans. They will play the Amerks again on Sunday with a 3 p.m. faceoff. For ticket information, please visit SoundTigers.com. The Wolf Pack opens the season at home with two weekend games—Friday Oct. 5 vs the Providence Bruins at 7:15 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. the Laval Rocket at the XL Center. First puck drops at 3 p.m. for Sunday’s contest. For ticket information, please visit HartfordWolfPack.com.

—With Staff Reports