Skaruk leads Isles to third straight victory

BRIDGEPORT — Jakub Skarek recorded 36 saves and the Bridgeport Islanders defeated the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins 4-2 to pick up their third straight victory on Saturday at Webster Bank Arena.

Twelve skaters recorded at least one point for Bridgeport, including a goal from Andy Andreoff in his 500th professional game. Arnaud Durandeau also scored for the fourth straight contest.

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton struck first in the opening nine minutes on Drew O’Connor’s sixth goal in the AHL this season to make it 1-0. Filip Hallander missed the net on a wrist shot from the left side, but the rebound angled to O’Connor behind the Bridgeport net and he capitalized on a wraparound at 8:46.

A swift response from the Islanders made it 2-1 at the first intermission. Andreoff tied the score 4:10 later with his 14th goal of the season on a 2-on-1 rush with Chris Terry from the left wing. Andreoff has recorded at least one point in every home game since Jan. 23rd.

The Islanders took the lead less than two minutes later when a wrist shot from Thomas Hickey leaked through traffic and past goaltender Alex D’Orio at the 14:24 mark. It was Hickey’s fourth goal of the season and first since Jan. 29th.

Following a scoreless second period, Jonathan Gruden drew the Penguins even at 1:55 of the third with an uncontested wrist shot that found its way past Skarek’s glove. However, Durandeau muscled home the eventual winning goal at 5:06 with his 11th of the year. Durandeau crashed the net following a fantastic forecheck from Kyle MacLean and Michael Dal Colle centered the puck for Durandeau.

It’s the longest goal-scoring streak for a Bridgeport player since Otto Koivula scored in five straight games from Dec. 28, 2018 to Jan. 5, 2019.