The Islanders went from scoring one goal on Wednesday to five on Saturday, beating Charlotte 5-1 in their first trip to North Carolina. Five players found the back of the net including three goals in the first period from Bardreau, Jeff Kubiak and Blade Jenkins. Michael Dal Colle and Chris Terry each lit the lamp in the third, while Skarek made 28 saves. The victory was not only Bridgeport's largest of the season, but it also gave the club its first two-game win streak on the road (4-1 win at Lehigh Valley, Nov. 27th).
Bardreau's fourth goal of the season and third in as many games gave the Islanders a third-period lead in their rematch with the Checkers on Sunday, but Bridgeport came up short in a 3-1 loss at Bojangles Coliseum to end the weekend. All three of Charlotte's goals came in the third - each in a different situation. The Checkers scored once on the power play, once at even strength, and added an empty netter in the final 62 seconds.
The seventh-place Islanders tangle with the Hartford Wolf Pack (13-6-2-1) tomorrow night in their final game before the holiday break. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside the XL Center in Hartford. Fans can follow all of the live action via the
Bridgeport Islanders Radio Network
and
AHLTV
.
The Week Ahead
Wednesday, Dec. 22 at Hartford Wolf Pack (7 p.m.) - The Islanders face the New York Rangers' affiliate for the sixth time this season and their third of six games at the XL Center. Bridgeport is 1-4-0-0 against Hartford this year, earning a 3-2 win on Nov. 7th at home. The Wolf Pack recorded a 4-3 victory in their last head-to-head battle on Nov. 17th in Hartford.