Game Day: Islanders vs. Thunderbirds
Feb 23, 2025THE STORY COMING IN
The Bridgeport Islanders (12-33-3-2) continue a three-game homestand today with a 3 p.m. puck drop against the Springfield Thunderbirds (25-19-2-3) at Total Mortgage Arena. The Islanders are looking to bounce back after falling to the Utica Comets, 4-2, last night. Dennis Cholowski scored a goal in his AHL season debut and Chris Terry notched his second straight multi-point performance (one goal, one assist), while Henrik Tikkanen (4-13-1) made 22 saves. Terry and Brian Pinho have each recorded points in back-to-back games entering today’s contest.
Watch today's game live: AHLTV on FloHockey
Listen to today's radio broadcast: Mixlr
ISLANDERS VS. THUNDERBIRDS
Today’s game marks the eighth of 10 meetings between the Islanders and T-Birds this season, and the third of five matchups in Connecticut. Bridgeport is 3-3-1-0 against the St. Louis Blues’ affiliate this year but winless at home (0-2-0-0). However, the Islanders outdueled the Thunderbirds for a 4-3 win in their last matchup on Jan. 20 at MassMutual Center. Eetu Liukas broke a 3-3 tie midway through the third period and Henrik Tikkanen was impressive with 38 saves that afternoon. Liam Foudy chipped in two goals and one assist, and now leads all players in the head-to-head series with six goals.
VIEW FROM SPRINGFIELD
The Thunderbirds have won back-to-back games including a 5-3 win against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at home last night. Alek Kaskimaki, Otto Stenberg, and Corey Schueneman all scored once and added an assist, while Colten Ellis (18-7-2) made 30 saves for his 18th win - tied for the AHL lead. Ellis ranks third among league goalies with a 0.924 save percentage. Matthew Peca also scored his team-leading 20th goal of the season last night and has now scored in three straight games. Peca, the former Quinnipiac University captain, paces Springfield with 41 points (20g, 21a) in 46 games.
TERRY’S HOT STREAK
Chris Terry has eight points in his last five games (2g, 6a) and 19 points in his last 14 (9g, 10a). He scored his 16th goal of the season and added an assist last night, posting his team-leading 14th multi-point performance. Overall, the five-time AHL All-Star has amassed 48 points (16g, 32a) in 49 games this season, tied for second in the AHL’s scoring race. He trails San Jose’s Andrew Poturalski by two points for the league lead. He’s also second in assists and tied for third in power-play points (20). Terry is 16 points from tying Jeremy Colliton for the team record, which he’s on pace to hit as early as the first week of April.
CHOLOWSKI SCORES IN RETURN
Dennis Cholowski cleared waivers on Friday, was assigned to Bridgeport by the New York Islanders yesterday morning, and then scored a goal in his first game back in the AHL last night. The 27-year-old defenseman played 33 NHL games for New York this season, recording three goals and seven assists after making the team out of training camp. Cholowski spent all of last season with Bridgeport. He led all Bridgeport blue-liners in goals (7), assists (24), and points (31), while playing an AHL career-high 68 games. Cholowski is in his seventh professional season and third with the Islanders’ organization.
QUICK HITS
Liam Foudy has 17 points in 20 games (9g, 8a) since New Year’s Day... He leads Bridgeport with 155 shots on goal, which is second most in the AHL among active players... Matt Kopperud and Matias Rajaniemi were returned on loan to the Worcester Railers (ECHL) on Thursday... Henrik Tikkanen has played in four straight games between the pipes… The Islanders’ penalty kill is 9-for-9 over its last six contests.
AFFILIATES
New York Islanders (25-23-7): Last: 6-3 L at Minnesota, Feb. 8 -- Next: Tonight vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET
Worcester Railers (24-22-2-4): Last: 4-2 W at Savannah, last night -- Next: Today at South Carolina, 3:05 p.m. ET