After sweeping the Providence Bruins on May 4, the Bridgeport Islanders went into their series against the Charlotte Checkers. The Checkers were the top-seed in the Atlantic Division, while Bridgeport was seeded last. The two teams had never met in the playoffs. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and review how the Islanders got eliminated last month.

Game 1:

Cory Schnieder started in goal for the Islanders and Joey Daccord was in goal for the Checkers.

Austin Czarnik beat Daccord twice in the first period, as the Isles led 2-0 at the intermission. However, Alexander True scored back-to-back goals on Schnieder and tied the game at two heading into the third frame. Gustav Olafsson squeaked one by Schnieder with under four minutes left in the contest, which gave Charlotte the first game of the series.

Game 2:

Game 2 did not start off well for Bridgeport. Zac Dalpe opened the scoring for Charlotte under a minute into the game. Three minutes later, Matt Kiersted scored, and Serron Noel and Cole Schwindt scored later in the frame. Schnieder was pulled after making five saves on nine shots.

Jakub Skarek came in, and before any pressure was put on him, Simon Holmstrom, Michael Dal Colle and Kyle MacLean scored three quick goals to make it a 4-3 game. But Dalpe then netted his second of the game to make it 5-3 after the first period.

The craziness continued in the second when Austin Czarnik and Chris Terry scored to tie the game at five at the second intermission. In the third, Connor Bunnaman broke the tie three minutes in, but Robin Salo put home his first goal of the postseason to tie the game at six.

In overtime, the teams went back-and-forth until the second extra period. Seth Helgeson pinched in to try to make a play, but a turnover was caused and Dalpe beat Skarek on a 2-on-1 — the goal was Dalpe’s third of the game. Charlotte had a 2-0 lead in the series heading back to North Carolina.

Game 3:

The scoring in Game 3 started in the second period when Florida Panthers’ top prospect Aleksi Heponiemi ripped one past Schnieder. However, Terry beat Daccord two minutes later to tie the game at one heading into the third.

In the third, Holmstrom ripped one past Daccord on a 2-on-1 with Terry to give the Isles a 2-1 lead and a few minutes later, Holmstrom scored an empty netter to make it 3-1. Connor Carrick fired one off the post and in to make it 3-2 just after the empty-netter, but it was too little too late. This was Bridgeport’s first regulation win in the Calder Cup Playoffs since 2010 when they beat the Hershey Bears.

Game 4:

In Game 4, the Checkers came out flying as Max McCormick beat Schnieder 61 seconds into the game. Before the end of the period, Dalpe scored his fourth goal of the series. Bridgeport came out flat in the second period, and it remained 2-0 heading into the third. In the third, Max McCormick scored two more to put the nail in the coffin and score his first playoff hat trick, ending Bridgeport’s season.

The Bridgeport Islanders made a lot of strides this year, winning their first postseason series since 2003, and breaking many other droughts. The future is bright for the entire organization.

Christian Gardecki

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.