Sound Tigers looking for another offensive boost
BRIDGEPORT — They couldn’t buy a goal for a few weeks. They couldn’t be denied for a couple of weeks.
For the past month, though, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers have averaged just about two goals a game in regulation time, allowing closer to two and a half. They’re collecting points, but they haven’t recaptured the magic they had during a five-game winning streak last month.
“It’s been tough as of late. I know we’re not scoring as many goals as we’d like,” Travis St. Denis said after Friday’s practice at the Wonderland of Ice, preparation for three games in three days this weekend.
“We’re just trying to generate more in practice. The way we play comes from how we practice. We’re really concentrating on creating chemistry with our lines, one of our key focuses this week, but it’s also going to the net, the gritty areas to finish rebounds, stuff like that.”
Bridgeport has scored 23 regulation-time goals in the past 11 games, plus one more in overtime and another credited for a shootout win. The Sound Tigers have allowed 27 in regulation time plus three more beyond regulation.
In those 11 games, they’re 5-3-2-1, clinging to second place in the Atlantic Division. They visit Providence on Friday, then welcome
Springfield and WilkesBarre/Scranton to Webster Bank Arena on Saturday and Sunday.
“Offensively, I think it’s just puck protection, protecting the puck better, shooting and getting secondary chances,” Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson said. “We’ve got to be a little bit harder to play against in the offensive zone, relentless on loose pucks.
“Outside that, we have the skill. We have the guys. We’re generating offense with the power play, but we have to do it at five-on-five consistently.”
The Sound Tigers scored 29 goals in that five-game winning streak (all at home) in early November. Just about every big name on the roster had a piece of that bonanza.
Since then, a few of those big names haven’t hit the back of the net, including Kieffer Bellows (who has three assists in those 11 games) and Travis St. Denis (one assist).
“I’m just trying to stick with it, not let my confidence get down too low,” St. Denis said. “Hopefully this weekend I get the monkey off my back, get the ball rolling offensively. I’m focusing on playing a 200-foot game, playing well defensively.”
Thompson said he’d like to see St. Denis a little more aggressive and physical to try to have the puck more. Bellows, on the other hand, Thompson said, has been physically engaged and generating chances.
“Honestly I think my games the past six or seven games have been the best of my season so far,” Bellows said. “Obviously the puck hasn’t gone in the net, and that’s fine. As long as I’m playing a full 200-foot game, moving my feet, creating stuff out there, sooner or later, they will.”
Bridgeport sent one of its top playmakers, Josh HoSang, up to the New York Islanders earlier this week, too. But defenseman Devon Toews appeared ready to return from injury after five games, which should help in both ends of the ice.