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| Sebastian
Aho (28) advances the puck at the blueline for the Sound Tigers. |
Photos by Bill Harper
BRIDGEPORT—The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (1-2-1-1),
American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, went toe-to-toe
with the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins (3-2-1-0) in their home opener, but
suffered a 3-2 shootout loss before 5.242 fans at Webster Bank Arena on
Saturday night. Nick Schilkey scored his first goal with the Sound Tigers on
a power-play rebound late in the first period, while Ryan Bourque also found
the back of the net to help Bridgeport capture one point. Christopher Gibson
(1-0-2) remained unbeaten in regulation this season, making 25 saves before
5,742 fans.
The Sound Tigers opened the scoring just 4:03 into the first
period when Bourque redirected Ryan MacKinnon’s lengthy shot from the blue line
for his second goal of the year. Mason Jobst circled with the puck and found
MacKinnon at the left point, where the defensemen leaned to his right foot and
fired a wrist shot that Bourque deflected past Casey DeSmith. It was the second
time that Bridgeport has scored first this season and the first professional
point for Jobst.
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| The Sound Tigers celebrate Nick Schilkey's first goal with Bridgeport. |
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton answered nearly four minutes later
when Andrew Agozzino beat Gibson from the slot to tie the game 1-1. Jake
Lucchini centered a pass for Kevin Czuczman, but the former Sound Tiger lost it
in his skates and fell over. That created a screen against Gibson and Agozzino
threaded home his first goal of the season at 8:20.
Fifty-seven seconds later, Sam Miletic put the Penguins on
top with his first goal of the season – and the first of back-to-back
power-play tallies in the contest. With Travis St. Denis in the box for
high-sticking, Agozzino and Stefan Noesen created chaos at the doorstep until
Miletic muscled home the go-ahead goal at the 9:17 mark.
Schilkey’s first goal with Bridgeport locked the score back
up and ultimately forced overtime. It followed a trio of roughing penalties,
which put the Sound Tigers on the power play, and the third-year forward cashed
in with a diving effort on a rebound. Sebastian Aho blasted a shot off the
post, but it deflected back to the doorstep where Schilkey dove to force it in.
Aho hit the crossbar again in the second period but couldn’t
give Bridgeport the lead. Likewise, the Penguins had many scoring chances and
outshot the Sound Tigers 17-10 in the final two frames, but didn’t score.
In overtime, Matt Lorito thought he had ended the game when
he found the back of the cage less than two minutes in, but it was ruled back
due to goaltender interference. Kieffer Bellows had just driven the net and
made slight contact with DeSmith.
Instead, Noesen, Joseph Cramarossa and Ryan Haggarty all
scored in a three-round shootout for the
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| It wouldn't be a hockey game without a little two-fisted tango, right? |
The Sound Tigers finished the game 1-for-5 on the power play
and 5-for-6 on the penalty kill. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton outshot Bridgeport
28-25.
With the win, the Penguins improved to 3-2-1-0 on the young
season while the Sound Tigers picked up a point in the shootout loss, and fell
to 1-2-1-1 overall. Next up the Sound Tigers will entertain the Providence
Bruins on Tuesday. First puck drops at 7 p.m. at the Webster Bank Arena. Fans
can follow all of the live action via the Sound Tigers Radio Network and AHLTV, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. Tickets
are on sale now!
Sound Tigers season tickets
and flex plans are on sale now for the 2019-20 campaign, offering the greatest
savings and ultimate flexibility of all ticket packages. Full-season, 20-game,
or 10-game plans are available, which entitle purchasers exclusive benefits,
including the ticket holder exchange policy. For more information, contact Brad
Dworin at 203-345-4813 or via email at brad.dworin@harboryardse.com.
—Staff Reports
#soundtigers / @TheSoundTigers / #AHL / @TheAHL
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