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| Finnish native Otto Koivula was en fuego last week, extending his point- scoring streak to five games and moving into the Top 5 among AHL rookies in points scored. - |
BRIDGEPORT—Otto Koivula extended his goal-scoring streak to five games and moved into the top seven among all rookie scorers in the American Hockey League, as the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (21-11-4-2) completed the first half of their 2018-19 regular season last week. The Finnish star's active streak is tied for the longest in the league and the Finnish forward now ranks second on the Sound Tigers in goals (12) and points (25).
The Sound Tigers, the AHL affiliate of the New York Islanders, collected just one point in three games (0-2-0-1) last week, continuing a six-game road trip through the North Division. The lone point came in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Rochester Americans (22-12-2-0) on Wednesday, in which the Sound Tigers battled back from a first-period deficit at Blue Cross Arena. That SOL allowed Bridgeport to increase its run in games it picked up at least one point to nine in its last 10 games. Matt Gaudreau (one goal, one assist) and Tanner Fritz (one goal, one assist) led the way offensively, including Gaudreau's first AHL goal early in the second period, while Jeremy Smith (11-6-2) made 25 saves just hours after he was named CCM/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December.
Following a practice day on Thursday, the Sound Tigers faced the Syracuse Crunch (21-10-2-0) for the first time this season and dropped a 3-1 decision at the War Memorial Arena in Syracuse on Friday night. Koivula posted Bridgeport’s only goal and Christopher Gibson (11-5-4) stopped 29 of 32 shots, while the Crunch capitalized once in each period to earn their fourth straight home victory.
Twenty-four hours later, Koivula set a new career high with his fifth goal in five games, but the Sound Tigers could not hold off the Binghamton Devils (16-20-3-0), dropping a 3-2 decision at Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena on Saturday. Travis St. Denis also scored on the power play and Smith made 31 saves as the Sound Tigers saw their winless streak hit three games for the first time this year (0-2-1).
Bridgeport remains second in the Atlantic Division with 48 points in 38 games, and the league-leadings Charlotte Checkers by nine points. Bridgeport will look for its first win of 2019 on Friday night when they conclude their season-long road trip at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. The Sound Tigers will face the Utica Comets (20-16-2-1) for the first time this season before returning home to face their in-state archrivals, the 17-16-2-2 Hartford Wolf Pack on Saturday. First puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Webster Bank Arena.
Fans can follow all of the action online via the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHLTV, beginning with the pregame show 15 minutes before each listed start time.
—Staff Reports
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