BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (December 5, 2016 ) - The Bridgeport Sound Tigers (15-7-0-0) won three of their four games last week, earning six points, but falling to fourth place in the treacherous Atlantic Division. Bridgeport has won seven of its last nine contests dating back to Nov. 19th.
The Sound Tigers kicked off the week on Tuesday with a 5-4 shootout victory over the Albany Devils at Webster Bank Arena. Veteran defenseman Jon Landry scored the lone goal in a three-round shootout, while Islanders prospect Devon Toews assisted on all four regulation goals for a career-best four points. Steve Bernier, Jesse Graham, Ben Holmstrom and Josh Winquist all scored for Bridgeport and Eamon McAdam made 24 saves in the win.
On Friday, Travis St. Denis captured his first professional goal, which stood as the game-winner, in a 3-1 victory over the Springfield Thunderbirds at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. Colin Markison also scored in his return to the lineup after missing 15 games due to injury. Between the pipes, McAdam made 21 saves and earned his sixth straight win to begin the season, equaling Christopher Gibson's record of 6-0-0-0.
The Sound Tigers Report: Week 8
Bridgeport is 15-7-0-0 this season after a trio of wins last week
St. Denis stayed red hot with two more goals, and an assist, on Saturday, while Stephon Williams halted a career-high 37 shots in a 4-0 shutout of the Binghamton Senators at Webster Bank Arena. Tanner Fritz and Bracken Kearns also tallied a goal as the Sound Tigers won their fifth straight home game and improved to 5-0-0-0 against North Division opponents. It was Williams' second career AHL shutout and his first since November 7, 2015.
The Sound Tigers capped the weekend on Sunday with a 3-2 setback to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in Bridgeport, snapping the team's three-game win streak overall. St. Denis tallied his fourth goal of the weekend and Kearns also scored for the second straight game, but the Sound Tigers came up short and fell to the Phantoms for the first time this season.
Bridgeport returns to action this Saturday with its first trip to Binghamton, NY this season, facing the Senators at 7:05 p.m. Fans can catch all of the live action via the team's online broadcast at
www.ahllive.com
, beginning with the pre-game show at 6:45 p.m.
The Week Ahead
Bridgeport at Binghamton Senators (5-14-1-1) - Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7:05 p.m.
Bridgeport vs. W-B/Scranton (14-4-3-0) - Sunday, Dec. 12 at 5 p.m.
News and Notes
St. Denis Heats Up:The floodgates have certainly opened for rookie forward Travis St. Denis, who scored four goals in three games over the weekend after not finding the net in his first 13 contests. The 24-year-old signed an AHL contract with the Sound Tigers last June after four seasons Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. St. Denis notched 125 points (60 goals, 65 assists) in 162 collegiate games, including a career-high 49 points as a senior last season, which ranked second on the club. His three-game goal streak is Bridgeport's longest this season.
Tough Company: It's no secret the Atlantic Division is currently the strongest in the American Hockey League. By collecting 30 points in their first 22 games, the Sound Tigers would lead any other division at this point, but they currently rank fourth in the Atlantic, one point behind Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Lehigh Valley and Hershey. Overall, Atlantic Division teams have combined for 186 points, 22 more than the next closest (Pacific Division has 164). Six of the Atlantic's seven teams are at or above .500.
Overtime Heroics: The Sound Tigers remained perfect beyond regulation last week with Wednesday's shootout win over Albany. Bridgeport continues to lead the league in overtime with a perfect winning percentage (6-for-6) - the only team to remain perfect in that category. Six of the Sound Tigers' last 14 contests have ended in overtime or a shootout, all in the month of November.
Predicting the Outcome: Aside from their overtime record, the Sound Tigers remained perfect last week when a number of other scenarios unfold. Bridgeport is 11-0-0-0 this season when scoring first and 12-0-0-0 when leading after two periods. In addition, the Sound Tigers are 7-0-0-0 when logging at least 30 shots in a contest and 7-0-0-0 when veteran winger Steve Bernier scores in a game.
Quick Hits : Bridgeport's power play went 4-for-18 in four games last week (22.2%)… The Sound Tigers are tied for second in the AHL with five shorthanded goals scored, one behind the Texas Stars… Bracken Kearns is tied for 13th in the AHL with 19 points (eight goals, 11 assists)… Devon Toews is tied for the league lead among rookies with 12 assists and tied for ninth in rookie scoring with 14 points… Eamon McAdam is eighth in the AHL with a 2.11 goals-against-average.
