Wolf Pack skate past Sound Tigers

BRIDGEPORT — Blade Jenkins recorded his first professional goal to open the scoring on Thursday afternoon, but the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (3-131-0) came up short in a 4-2 loss to the Hartford Wolf Pack (10-61-0) at Webster Bank Arena.

Jenkins’ first goal came on a rebound from the right circle after Ryan MacKinnon’s initial shot hit the body of Hartford defenseman Patrick Sieloff. It dropped at Jenkins’ feet and the 20-year-old rookie beat goaltender Adam Huska. Cole Bardreau also scored his team-leading seventh goal of the season on Thursday, while Ken Appleby (1-2-0) made 21 saves on 24 shots.

Jenkins, the Islanders’ fifth-round draft choice in 2018, made it 1-0 at 12:32 of the first period, converting in just his sixth pro game. MacKinnon and Bobo Carpenter each earned their first assists of the season on the early goal.

Wolf Pack forward Paul Thompson had the next two goals to give Hartford its first lead of the afternoon.

Thompson’s second tally occurred just 3:01 later when he finished another loose puck in front. Patrick Khodorenko created a turnover on the left wing and danced his way to the crease before the puck came unfastened from his stick. It slid to Thompson at the doorstep for a forehand finish.

Bardreau’s fifth goal in nine games tied the contest at 2-2 at 7:26 of the second period. Tom Kuhnhackl created a turnover at the red line and Kyle MacLean charged down the left wing before cutting to the slot. He fired a backhand attempt off of Huska’s pads and Bardreau guided home the rebound for his seventh goal, and ninth point of the season.

Tim Gettinger scored the eventual winning goal during a 5-on-3 power play late in the second period.

The Sound Tigers face Hartford for the fourth straight game this Saturday at 1 p.m. inside the XL Center.