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B-Isles Three In Three Weekend Produces Mixed Results

B-Isles Three In Three Weekend Produces Mixed Results
Joey McAuliffe Bridgeport Islanders

The Bridgeport Islanders completed their only “three in three” of the season this past weekend, playing three games in three cities over three consecutive nights. The first matchup took place on the road against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, followed by a home game against the Charlotte Checkers, and concluding with a Sunday matinee at the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Friday: A Night to Forget
Bridgeport’s weekend opener was disastrous, as they fell 5-0 to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Following last weekend’s loss to the Islanders, the Penguins took the ice with purpose, determined to avenge that defeat. They struck first at 6:43 of the opening period and never relinquished control, scoring twice in the first and three times in the third.

Jakub Skarek made 28 saves on 33 shots for a save percentage of roughly .850%. While the stat line may suggest otherwise, the loss was hardly Skarek’s fault, as Bridgeport’s defense struggled mightily. Samuel Bolduc and Christian Krygier endured rough outings, finishing at -4 and -3, respectively.

Saturday: A Narrow Defeat
Saturday’s home game against the Charlotte Checkers was a significant improvement, though it ended in a 3-2 shootout loss. The game began poorly, with Bridgeport conceding two first-period goals. Sloppy defensive play left goaltender Marcus Hogberg facing impossible situations, but he still managed eight saves on ten shots in the opening frame.

The Islanders began turning the tide in the second period, led by the energetic third line of Liam Foudy, Marc Gatcomb, and Cole Bardreau. Bardreau’s physical play ignited the crowd and visibly frustrated Charlotte skaters. With just two seconds left in the period, defenseman Travis Mitchell snapped a four-period scoring drought by burying a rebound past Chris Driedger, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

In the third, Bridgeport tied the game at 11:01 with Julien Gauthier’s power-play goal. Despite relentless pressure through the final ten minutes and overtime, the Islanders couldn’t find a winner. The shootout proved decisive, with Checkers forward Ryan McAllister scoring the lone goal in the fourth round. Fredrik Karlstrom’s attempt to extend the game missed, sealing the loss for Bridgeport.

Despite the defeat, the Islanders’ effort was commendable. They went 1-for-5 on the power play and held Charlotte’s league-best unit scoreless on three attempts. A crucial penalty kill in overtime, following a questionable goaltender interference call on Matthew Maggio, kept the game alive. The resilience Bridgeport displayed was a bright spot heading into Sunday.

Sunday: A Strong Finish
Defenseman Seth Helgeson, re-signed earlier in the week, made his season debut on Sunday, replacing Cam McDonald. Helgeson, the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, was part of a defensive rotation featuring Krygier and McDonald throughout the weekend.

The Islanders saved their best for last, defeating the Hartford Wolf Pack 4-1. As in all their victories this season, Bridgeport never trailed. Following a scoreless first period, Mitchell struck again at 5:56 of the second, scoring unassisted on a breakaway. Hartford tied the game ten minutes later when Matthew Robertson’s shot deflected off Benoit Olivier-Groulx and into the net.

Tied at one entering the third, the Islanders showed no signs of fatigue after 165 minutes of hockey over the weekend. At 4:11, Gatcomb buried a rebound off Justin Gill’s shot, giving Bridgeport a 2-1 lead. Hogberg held firm despite heavy Wolf Pack pressure, and the Islanders extended their lead late. Foudy scored an empty-net goal at 18:16, and Brian Pinho added another ten seconds later to secure the 4-1 victory.

The win came at a cost, as veteran forwards Chris Terry and Gauthier both exited in the second period with injuries. Terry left after a facial cut, while Gauthier appeared to injure his shoulder.

Weekend Recap and Looking Ahead
Bridgeport went 1-1-1 over the weekend, an encouraging result given the challenging schedule. The Islanders are now 3-1-1 in their last five games, collecting seven out of ten possible points as they look to climb back from a slow start to the season.

Special teams were critical, particularly the penalty kill, which was perfect on all five opportunities this weekend. Mitchell, recently back from a brief NHL stint, was a standout with two goals and a +2 rating.

The Islanders will host the Belleville Senators for a pair of games next weekend. Saturday’s contest on Nov. 30 begins at 7:00 p.m., followed by a Sunday matchup on Dec. 1 at 3:00 p.m. Fans can catch all AHL action on FloHockey.tv.

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