(Photo Credit: Jackson Sokoloski / Bridgeport Islanders)
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Following a resounding 5–2 win over the Hartford Wolf Pack on Wednesday, the Bridgeport Islanders hit the road for their final trip of the regular season, beginning tonight against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins before facing the Hershey Bears tomorrow. Henrik Tikkanen gets the start for Rocky Thompson and comes in red-hot, posting a 7–1 record in his last eight games. Opposing him is fellow Finnish netminder Joel Blomqvist, who will look to halt Bridgeport’s momentum.
The team has seen an influx of players who won’t be in the lineup tonight, including Cal Ritchie, Quinn Finley, and Daniil Prokhorov, while continuing to rely on strong efforts from Liam Foudy, Victor Eklund, and Isaiah George.
The first period was brutal for Bridgeport, as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton controlled play throughout and took a 3–0 lead into the intermission. Finn Harding, Avery Hayes, and Ville Kouvinen each found the back of the net, putting Bridgeport in an early hole. Tikkanen surrendered three goals on 10 shots, continuing a tough stretch after being pulled in his last outing.
The second period continued to tilt in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton’s favor, but it was Bridgeport that got on the board. Chris Terry cut the deficit to 3–1, while Cole Eiserman picked up an assist to extend his point streak. Henrik Tikkanen remained in the net for the Islanders and looked much sharper, giving them a chance to climb back into the game.
Bridgeport put together a solid third period, but ultimately couldn’t solve Joel Blomqvist in time. Tristan Broz added a goal with just over five minutes remaining to put the game out of reach. Despite the loss, the Islanders clinched at least one home game as the Springfield Thunderbirds fell 7–5 to the Hartford Wolf Pack—offering a silver lining on an otherwise tough night.
Catch the Bridgeport Islanders tomorrow as they take on the Hershey Bears at Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM.