Islanders and Phantoms Face Off at 7:05 p.m.
Nov 27, 2021The Bridgeport Islanders (5-11-1-2) travel to Allentown, Penn. for the first time this season to battle the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (3-9-4-1) at 7:05 p.m. inside PPL Center. Last night, Collin Adams and Erik Brown each scored a milestone goal to help the Islanders stay close in a 3-2 loss to the Providence Bruins at home. Adams recorded his first AHL tally just 2:20 into the game and Brown tipped home his first professional goal nearly four minutes into the third. All three Bruins’ goals came in a span of less than six minutes in the second period, which ultimately sent Bridgeport to its seventh straight loss (0-6-1-0).
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ISLES VS. PHANTOMS
Tonight’s game is the first of six meetings between the Islanders and Phantoms this season, and the first of three in Allentown. It’s Bridgeport’s first trip to the PPL Center since Mar. 8, 2020 when it earned a 6-5 shootout win in the penultimate game before the COVID-19 shutdown. The Islanders will host the Philadelphia Flyers’ affiliate on Feb. 2nd, Apr. 3rd and Apr. 10th.
VIEW FROM LEHIGH
The Phantoms have lost six straight games (0-3-2-1) dating back to Nov. 12th and rank eighth in the Atlantic Division with 11 points in 17 contests. Last night, Max Willman scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season in a 4-1 loss to the Syracuse Crunch at Upstate Medical University Arena. Felix Sandstrom made 30 saves in his team-leading 13th appearance. Sandstrom ranks third among all AHL goalies in minutes played (718:24) and saves (324).
ADAMS FAMILY
New York Islanders draft pick Collin Adams scored his first AHL goal in just his second game last night, converting on the power play early in the first period. Adams made his AHL debut on Wednesday after beginning his pro career with the Worcester Railers (ECHL) this season. He had one goal and three assists in eight games with Worcester. Adams was selected in the sixth round (#170) in 2016.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU
Erik Brown scored his first professional goal in his 28th pro game last night, altering Connor McCarthy’s long shot from the point past Bruins’ goaltender Troy Grosenick. Brown had one assist in 13 games with Bridgeport last season after missing the entire 2019-20 campaign due to injury. He has one goal and 15 penalty minutes in 12 games with the Islanders this season.
KILL IT
The Islanders had to contend with a season-high seven power plays against on Wednesday and faced six more last night. They went 5-for-6 against the Bruins last night and 7-for-7 on Wednesday. It was especially promising as Springfield boasted the AHL’s fourth best power play entering the week, and Bridgeport had allowed a power-play goal in five straight games. The Islanders’ PK is 19th in the AHL at 79.7% and ninth on the road (83.7%).
QUICK HITS
Austin Czarnik has points in three of his last five games and is tied for fifth on the team with nine points (three goals, six assists)... Forwards Otto Koivula, Richard Panik, Andy Andreoff and Anatolii Golyshev, as well as defensemen Thomas Hickey, Grant Hutton, Paul LaDue and Robin Salo, have been recalled by New York since Nov. 17th... Forwards Paul Thompson, Felix Bibeau and Collin Adams, along with defensemen Mike Cornell and Connor McCarthy, have each been promoted from Worcester since last Saturday.
AFFILIATE REPORT
New York Islanders (5-10-2); Last: 1-0 L vs. PIT, Friday -- Next: Tomorrow at NYR, 6 p.m.
Worcester Railers (5-7-0-1): Last: 8-1 W at ADK, Friday -- Next: Tomorrow vs. NFL, 3:05 p.m.