Sound Tigers bite back in second period

BRIDGEPORT — Goalies had stymied them, and then video review took a couple of goals away from them, too, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers thought.

They got a quick goal, then took over the game with three second- period goals Saturday night at Webster Bank Arena, beating the Springfield Thunderbirds 5- 2.

Mike Sislo and Michael Dal Colle thought they’d scored in the first period, and though the referees checked the over- the- net video on both, neither one counted for Bridgeport. Both players went on to score goals that did stand, Dal Colle 25 seconds after his disallowed marker, Sislo in the second period to put Bridgeport ahead.

“It was huge. I think Sislo’s was a goal as well,” Dal Colle said.

“It was big to get it back right away and score on that power play, or else it might’ve been in our heads, ‘ what’ve we got to do to score?’”

The Sound Tigers put 42 shots on goal Friday night at Springfield in a 3- 2 loss. Saturday, Bridgeport dealt the Thunderbirds their first regulation loss of the young season after a 7- 00- 2 start.

The Sound Tigers are 5- 5- 1- 0.

“I thought it was backto- back games we played a pretty good game,” Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson said.

“There was a little more sloppy play tonight as far as puck turnovers, but as far as the compete level, the battle, the physicality, I’m really happy with the effort the guys put forth. That’s the key, the effort, the intensity. When we play on our toes, we’re a strong team.”

Managing eight veterans for five lineup spots and eight defensemen for six slots, Bridgeport made five lineup changes, including getting left winger Tom Kuhnhackl into the lineup for his first AHL game since Jan. 5, 2016.

The New York Islanders sent Kuhnhackl down on Wednesday when they called up Christopher Gibson to spell Robin Lehner ( Gibson was sent down Saturday but didn’t dress). Kuhnhackl, given Friday night off, scored two goals and added an assist on Sislo’s goal Saturday.

“I felt good. I had a skate yesterday and a skate to-

day. It’s nice to get back out there,” Kuhnhackl said. “It doesn’t matter where you end up playing, I’m always excited to play.” Attendance was 3,344. Bridgeport scored two power- play goals for the second night in a row. Dal Colle scored on the rebound of a Josh Ho- Sang shot. Ho- Sang scored off a Dal Colle rebound in the second period, his first goal of the year.

Ho- Sang put three shots on goal, as many as he’d had in the previous five games.

“This is the longest I’ve gone without scoring a goal, which was kind of annoying,” Ho- Sang said with a laugh. “Usually the opportunity presents itself, but for whatever reason, it hadn’t been there. I went in with a shooter’s mindset.”