Recap: Checkers 5, Islanders 2
Feb 25, 2023Andy Andreoff (pictured) and Chris Terry each scored a power-play goal against the Charlotte Checkers (30-17-3-2) on Saturday night, but the Bridgeport Islanders (23-20-7-1), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, saw their four-game win streak come to an end in a 5-2 loss at Total Mortgage Arena.
William Dufour recorded his second consecutive multi-point effort with two assists and Dennis Cholowski also had two helpers. Bridgeport went 2-for-4 on the man advantage and 6-for-7 on the penalty kill.
Jakub Skarek (8-12-3) made 38 saves on 42 shots.
Charlotte netted the game’s opening goal after a cross-ice pass from Logan Hutsko found the stick of Henry Bowlby, who guided a heavy wrist shot under Skarek’s blocker at 8:46 of the first period. It was Bowlby’s third goal in the last three games and his sixth in the last seven.
Bridgeport found the equalizer at 8:14 of the second period during the late stages of a 5-on-3 power play. After two different Checkers broke their sticks blocking shots from Terry, the Islanders’ leading scorer skated near the slot and rifled a strong wrist shot past goaltender Jean-Francois Berube (4-2-1) to make it 1-1. It was Terry’s 17th goal of the season and team-best 50th point, assisted by Cholowski and Dufour.
The Florida Panthers’ affiliate regained their lead and pulled away with the next three goals beginning at 15:38 of the second. Gerry Mayhew tallied his first of two goals on the night by sneaking past several Bridgeport skaters in front of the net and putting a wrist shot off the far post and in.
Charlotte capitalized on a 5-on-3 of its own less just 44 seconds into the final frame with a one-time blast from Lucas Carlsson that beat an outstretched Skarek to make it 3-1. Ethan Keppen followed at the 3:59 mark with his fourth goal of the season, creating a turnover in Bridgeport’s zone before driving the net and finishing strong on the backhand. Keppen barreled into Skarek in the process and although the goal counted, the Islanders were awarded a power play.
During the ensuing man advantage, Andreoff redirected home Dufour’s shot from the right circle, giving the Islanders their second power-play goal of the night 4:50 into the third. It was the veteran center’s team-leading 21st goal of the season and his team-best ninth power-play score, tying his career high. Cholowski was credited with the secondary assist.
Bridgeport pulled Skarek with 4:01 left in hopes of narrowing its deficit, but Mayhew notched the final dagger with an empty-net tally at 16:20.
The Islanders fell to 1-2-0-0 against the Checkers this season. Charlotte improved its points streak on the road to nine games (8-0-1-0).
Next Time Out: The Islanders hit the halfway point in their season-long, six-game homestand tomorrow with a 5 p.m. matchup against the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at Total Mortgage Arena. Doors open at 4 p.m. The game can be seen live via AHLTV.com or heard on the Bridgeport Islanders Radio Network.