Bridgeport Islanders Sweep Providence Bruins, Win Series
Prior to Thursday night, it had been 6,956 days since the Bridgeport Islanders (formerly the Bridgeport Sound Tigers) won a playoff series. That changed when the Islanders swept the Providence Bruins, thanks to Aatü Raty scoring an overtime winner — his first North American professional goal — in Game 2 which sent the Islanders to the second round for the first time since 2003.
Game 1
In the first game of the series on Monday night, it was a slow game, but Cory Schneider was strong in goal for the Islanders in the first period, as he made 16 saves. He made 20 more in the second, but Jakub Lauko ripped home a power-play goal to put the Bruins on the board first.
Just over one minute into the third period, Grant Hutton scored from a weird angle. The game went to overtime.
After 10 minutes of back-and-forth action, Raty won a face-off back to Robin Salo, who put a shot on goal. It was picked up by Arnaud Durandeau, who wrapped it into the net and gave the Islanders a Game 1 victory. Schneider made 46 saves for the Islanders.
Game 2
In front of a record playoff crowd of 5,478, including many fans who made the commute from Long Island, the Islanders had the opportunity to sweep the Bruins.
Like Game 1, scoring was slow, and it was a true goaltending duel between Troy Grosenick and Schneider. In the third period on the power-play, Michael Dal Colle put home a Chris Terry shot to give the Islanders a 1-0 lead.
However, with under seven minutes left, Nick Wolff tied the contest at one, and for the second straight game — and the fourth straight game in their last four playoff games dating back to 2019 — the Islanders went to overtime.
Just over 12 minutes into the extra frame, Kyle MacLean picked up the puck at the Providence blue-line off of an Austin Czarnik pass and dropped it off to Aatü Raty, who ripped it by Grosenick.
The Islanders now will battle the regular season Atlantic Division champions, the Charlotte Checkers. This will be their first postseason duel. The schedule, courtesy of the Bridgeport Islanders’ official website, is below.
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.
