Jan 12, 2022
The Bridgeport Islanders (13-16-3-4), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, extended their unbeaten in regulation streak to six games with a 4-3 shootout win against the Hershey Bears (18-10-2-2) on Wednesday at Giant Center.
Seth Helgeson, Paul Thompson and Erik Brown each scored in regulation, and Michael Dal Colle had the only tally in a three-round shootout, as Bridgeport improved to 3-0-2-1 to begin 2022. Jakub Skarek (10-8-3) made 27 saves for his third consecutive victory.
Bridgeport secured its win in come-from-behind fashion as Hershey jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of shorthanded goals from Shane Gersich and Brian Pinho. Gersich capitalized on a 2-on-1 rush in transition at 12:57 of the first period, beating Skarek’s blocker with a snapshot from the left circle for his ninth goal of the season. Just over six minutes later, Pinho scored his first goal of the year on a breakaway at the 19:01 mark. Both goals came with Dylan McIlrath in the box.
The Islanders traded chances with Hershey throughout the second period, and drew the contest even with back-to-back goals in the span of 47 seconds late in the frame. Helgeson’s second goal of the season came on a lengthy shot from the blue line that floated through traffic and past Pheonix Copley at 15:02. It occurred less than a minute before Paul Thompson fired a hard wrist shot past Copley’s glove from the left circle.
The contest remained knotted until 13:34 of the third period, when Erik Brown raced out of the penalty box to set up a 2-on-1 in transition. He served a bench minor for too-many-men before joining Felix Bibeau on a rush, and scoring his third goal of the season. Andy Andreoff also logged an assist.
Joe Snively tied things back up at the 17:44 mark to eventually force overtime, converting on a scramble at the doorstep to extend his point streak to eight games.
The Islanders…
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