Feb 26, 2022
The Bridgeport Islanders (18-23-5-4), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, fell to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (22-21-2-4) in a 5-3 final at Webster Bank Arena on Saturday.
A late rally was not enough for the Islanders to overcome a three-goal deficit in the first period and a two-goal shortfall early in the third. Parker Wotherspoon, Andy Andreoff, and Arnaud Durandeau all scored for Bridgeport, while Jakub Skarek (12-10-4) made 25 saves.
Filip Hallander recorded a hat trick for the Penguins and Tommy Nappier (8-6-2) stopped 28 shots.
Drew O’Connor opened the scoring for the Penguins just 3:01 into the game when he tapped the puck into an empty net after Mitch Reinke’s centering feed from the right circle. It was O’Connor’s fourth goal in his eighth AHL game this season after spending most of the year with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hallander doubled the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lead at 7:30 of the first period when he took advantage of a rebound and converted from the doorstep. Juuso Riikola hammered a shot at Skarek from the left point that was turned back, but Hallander cashed in on the rebound for his first of three goals on the night. Anthony Angello made it 3-0 with a power-play tally at the 11:25 mark, stepping into a slap shot above the right circle and beating Skarek’s glove.
Wotherspoon got one back for the Islanders at 12:43 of the first period when he crashed the net on a 2-on-1 and redirected Simon Holmstrom’s cross-ice pass. His third goal of the season came at 4-on-4, less than a half minute after Otto Koivula and Kyle Olson were assessed matching penalties for roughing.
Hallander made it 4-1 Penguins with his second goal of the game at 7:13 of the second period. The 21-year-old intercepted a pass in the offensive zone and beat Skarek on a quick, uncontested wrist shot.
Down by three late in the second, Andreoff began what…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Bridgeport Islanders…