Preview: Islanders vs. Americans
Apr 7, 2024THE STORY COMING IN
The Bridgeport Islanders (24-36-6-1) host the Rochester Americans (35-22-6-3) in a 3 p.m. puck drop at Total Mortgage Arena this afternoon. It’s the Islanders’ final game against a North Division opponent this season. Bridgeport is looking to bounce back after suffering a 6-3 loss to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at home last night. Daylan Kuefler, William Dufour and Matt Maggio each scored, while Jakub Skarek (no decision) and Ken Appleby (10-10-0) both saw time in net. Dufour had one goal and one assist, and has now scored in back-to-back games for the second time in the last month.
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ISLANDERS VS. AMERICANS
Today’s game is the second of two meetings between the Islanders and Amerks this season, and the only matchup at Total Mortgage Arena. Ruslan Iskhakov scored the game-winning goal 21 seconds into overtime in the season opener on Oct. 13th, lifting the Islanders to a 4-3 victory in Rochester. Iskhakov also had a regulation goal and ended the night with three points (2g, 1a). Brian Pinho set a franchise record for most points in his team debut (four assists) and Dennis Cholowski scored the first goal of the Islanders’ season just 1:47 into the game. Linus Weissbach recorded one goal and one assist to lead the Americans.
VIEW FROM ROCHESTER
The red-hot Rochester Americans have won five straight games and carry a seven-game point streak into today’s tilt (6-0-0-1), the longest active streak in the Eastern Conference. Rochester is third in the North Division with 79 points in 66 games, and can clinch a playoff berth this afternoon with a win AND a Utica loss of any kind in Toronto. Last night, the Amerks defeated the Providence Bruins in overtime when Michael Mersch scored 46 seconds into the extra frame to cap a 3-2 victory. Linus Weissbach and Anton Wahlberg (first AHL goal in his third game) each had a regulation tally, while Devon Levi (13-5-3) made 33 saves.
MR. 400
Jeff Kubiak could play his 400th professional game this afternoon. The 30-year-old native of Tinley Park, Ill. has played 337 AHL games with Bridgeport and 62 ECHL contests with the Worcester Railers (2017-19). He has 109 career points (40g, 69a) with Bridgeport and ranks third on the team’s all-time games played list (337), trailing only Seth Helgeson (443) and Mark Wotton (368). Kubiak has 17 points (8g, 9a) in 67 games this season.
PINHO’S PRODUCTIVE STRETCH
Brian Pinho has 11 points in his last 14 games (2g, 9a) including a two-assist effort on Wednesday in Hartford. The 28-year-old shares second on the team in scoring (30 points) alongside Otto Koivula, who hasn’t played since Mar. 10th. Pinho, who had four assists in his first game with Bridgeport against Rochester on Oct. 13th, has surpassed his point total from last season and has already set a new career high for assists (24). Pinho collected 37 points (20g, 17a) in 62 games with Hershey in 2019-20, the year he made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals.
QUICK HITS
The Islanders are 5-8-0-0 against North Division opponents this season... William Dufour is looking for his second three-game goal streak of the season (also had three straight games with a goal from Jan. 7th - Jan. 10th)... Bridgeport last hosted Rochester on Jan. 20, 2023 - when Dufour scored the only goal in a 1-0 overtime win... The Islanders are 7-2-2-0 when playing on a Sunday this season... Ruslan Iskhakov has assists in back-to-back games.
AFFILIATES
New York Islanders (35-27-15): Last: 2-0 W vs. Nashville, last night -- Next: Tuesday vs. New York Rangers, 7 p.m. ET
Worcester Railers (30-30-5-3): Last: 8-2 W vs. Maine, last night -- Next: Today vs. Maine, 3:05 p.m. ET