Wolf Pack rally to edge Islanders

HARTFORD — The Bridgeport Islanders (5-71-2) scored three times in the first period including two from Blade Jenkins, but dropped a 4-3 decision to the Hartford Wolf Pack (10-3-1-0) at the XL Center on Wednesday.

Jenkins’ goals came just 2:44 apart and Otto Koivula added his third tally of the season on Bridgeport’s opening power play, while Jakub Skarek (5-2-2) made 28 saves. It was Skarek’s first regulation loss since the season opener in Hartford on Oct. 15.

The Wolf Pack responded from a 3-1 deficit after the first period by scoring three unanswered goals in the second. Morgan Barron’s 5-on-3 power-play goal late in the second frame was the difference.

Hartford struck first for just the fourth time this season when Justin Richards made it 1-0 less than three minutes into the contest.

The Islanders responded in a big way with three consecutive goals from Koivula and Jenkins. Koivula’s power-play tally at 8:02 finished an impressive sequence of passes to tie the game 1-1.

Jenkins put Bridgeport ahead at 11:59 of the first period, cleaning up a rebound produced by Thomas Hickey’s lengthy shot. It was Hickey’s 200th professional point and Simon Holmstrom also notched his first of two assists on the night. Holmstrom set up Jenkins’ second goal of the period and fifth of the season less than three minutes later to make it 3-1.

Four of Jenkins' five goals this season have come inside the XL Center in Hartford. He also scored twice on Nov. 5th.

Bridgeport outshot Hartford 11-9 in the third period, but couldn’t come up with the equalizer. The Islanders fell to 1-4-0-0 against the Wolf Pack this season and 1-5-1-2 on the road.

Bridgeport went 1-for-2 on the power play and 2for-3 on the penalty kill. Kinkaid (7-1-1) stopped 31 shots for his league-leading seventh win.