Bridgeport Sound Tigers Start the Season with a Loss to the Providence Bruins
The Bridgeport Sound Tigers lost their 2020-21 season opener in Marlborough to the Providence Bruins. It was a fast-paced game that had viewers on the edge of their seats.
Lines:
The Sound Tigers lineup ran as follows:
Brown-Fritz-Holmstrom
Greer-MacLean-Kuhnhackl
Jobst-Bibeau-Carpenter
Neumann-Kubiak-Bardreau
Helgeson-Vande Sompel
Bolduc-Hutton
Wotherspoon-Wilde
Skarek
Motte
First Period:
The Sound Tigers season opener had a strong start for Bridgeport., recording ten shots on goaltender Jeremy Swayman in the first period. The rookie out of the University of Maine made some nice saves on Parker Wotherspoon, who played a very aggressive game. Bridgeport goaltender Jakub Skarek was up to the task as well, holding the game scoreless after the first. The Sound Tigers outshot the Bruins 10-9.
Second Period:
Providence gained more pressure early into the period, and when Jeff Kubiak took a penalty, Providence went to their second power play. As the power play was winding down, Zach Senyshyn tipped a shot from Jakub Lauko past Skarek at the 8:28 mark of the first. Bridgeport applied pressure after the goal, but Swayman stood tall in his first professional game. The Bruins outplayed the Sound Tigers in the second period, outshooting Bridgeport 15-10.
Third Period:
The Sound Tigers came into the period down a goal and desparate for scoring opportunities. However, five minutes into the period, Alex Olivier-Voyer scored his first professional goal off of a sloppy play, giving Providence a 2-0 lead. On the Sound Tigers’ second power play of the game, Mitchell Vande Sompel took a shot from the point that Bobo Carpenter tipped past Swayman for the team’s first goal of the season. After that, however, Jakub Lauko entered the offensive zone on a two-on-one with Sam Asselin, who ripped a one-timer past Skarek to give Providence a 3-1 lead with seven minutes remaining. Carpenter had a chance to cut the deficit to one on a penalty shot, but he was denied by Swayman. Robert Lantosi scored the empty-net goal in the dying seconds to wrap up the 4-1 victory for Providence.
The Bruins win their 13th straight game, continuing a streak that dates back to last season. Skarek made 26 saves, as did Swayman, but Providence simply put more pucks in the back of the net.
Takeaways:
Carpenter, Skarek, Swayman, and Lauko all looked strong for their respective clubs, who look to build off of the positive moments of this game.
The Sound Tigers are back in action on Sunday against the Hartford Wolf Pack at 1:00 PM E.S.T.
A Native of Danbury, CT. Christian is one of the longest tenured Drive4Five writers, Christian Gardecki began writing for Drive4five In May of 2017. Christian covers Minor League Hockey and the Bridgeport Islanders for Drive4Five. Outside of Drive4Five, Christian was the captain of his High School Hockey team and currently attends Hofstra University with a major in journalism. Christian was the play by play broadcaster for the Danbury Westerners summer collegiate baseball team during their 2021 NECBL Championship. Christian also was the Public Address Announcer for the Danbury Hat Tricks Minor Pro Hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and NAHL Junior team from 2019-21.
