Recap: Bruins 5, Islanders 4
Dec 28, 2023The Bridgeport Islanders (8-17-2-0), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, featured four different goal scorers on Wednesday night in a 5-4 loss to the Providence Bruins (15-12-2-2) at Total Mortgage Arena.
Karson Kuhlman, Dennis Cholowski, Brian Pinho and Robin Salo all lit the lamp, while Jakub Skarek (3-13-2) turned aside 17 shots before Ken Appleby took over midway through the third period. Kuhlman’s goal was a highlight-reel drive to the net through traffic and in during the second period, one of Bridgeport’s more fascinating goals of the season.
The Islanders outshot the Bruins 37-25, but fell to 1-5-0-0 against Providence this season.
The Bruins broke the ice 14:52 into the game, as Georgii Merkulov rifled a shot from the bottom of the right circle past Skarek for his 14th goal of the season. Justin Brazeau and Alec Regula were credited with the assists.
The Islanders responded just three minutes later when Pinho corralled a rebound in the slot and beat Brandon Bussi. Ruslan Iskhakov created the rebound opportunity with his shot, recording the assist on the tying goal.
Bridgeport took its first lead of the game 6:22 into an eventful second period. Kuhlman went in one-on-one against Bruins defenseman Dan Renouf before deking around him, going down to one knee, and forcing a backhand shot past Bussi for a highlight goal.
Providence tied it up about three minutes later, as Michael Callahan put one past Skarek from the right circle for his first goal of the season. The Bruins then took the lead back on the power play, making it 3-2 with 6:40 left in the second period. Anthony Richard directed a one-timer past Skarek from the right circle, with John Farinacci and Frederic Brunet tallying the assists.
Just 26 seconds later, Cholowski tied the game for Bridgeport with a high-rising shot from the blue line. Tyce Thompson and Vincent Sevigny registered the assists before the puck found its way past Bussi, finishing off a high-scoring second period.
Providence regained the lead for good one minute into the third period. Callahan took a shot from the blue line that squeaked its way past Skarek - his second goal of the game. Richard and Merkulov recorded the assists for their second points of the game as well.
Richard extended the Bruins lead 10:15 into the third with his second goal of the game. The Providence winger capitalized on a short-handed two-on-one opportunity with a shot from the right circle.
Salo pulled the Islanders within one with 1:22 left in the game, as his shot from the point found its way through traffic and past Bussi. Kyle MacLean and Cole Bardreau assisted on the tally.
Both Jacob Pivonka and Trevor Cosgrove made their AHL season debuts for the Islanders after being recalled from the Worcester Railers (ECHL) earlier in the day.
Next Time Out: The Islanders return to the road on Friday night, facing the Springfield Thunderbirds at MassMutual Center. The puck drops at 7:05 pm and the game can be seen live on AHLTV.com or heard via the Bridgeport Islanders Radio Network.