Recap: Senators 3, Islanders 2
Dec 1, 2024The Bridgeport Islanders (5-12-1-2), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, fell in heartbreaking fashion to the Belleville Senators (8-4-0-4), 3-2, at Total Mortgage Arena on Sunday.
Liam Foudy and Travis Mitchell both scored for Bridgeport, while Jakub Skarek (3-7-0) made 33 saves in his 10th appearance of the season.
The Islanders had a 2-1 lead with just under nine minutes to play in regulation, but allowed a power-play goal from Stephen Halliday and a redirected goal from Wyatt Bongiovanni just 2:59 apart which put Belleville on top for good.
After being held scoreless by the Senators on Saturday night, the Islanders broke through at 10:30 of the first. Odelius launched a wrist shot from the blue line that hit Foudy in tight and redirected into the back of the net, giving Bridgeport the early 1-0 lead. It was Foudy’s fourth goal of the season and his second in the last three games.
At 5:22 of the second, Mitchell fired a shot from the top of the right circle that translated into his fourth goal of the season. The puck bounced off a Senators’ player in front and slipped past goaltender Malcolm Subban to double the Islanders’ advantage. Mitchell has notched a point in five of the last seven games (three goals, two assists).
Belleville answered midway through the second frame to make it 2-1 entering the second intermission. Garrett Pilon moved down the left wing and backhanded a pass to Nikolas Matinpalo in front of the net. Matinpalo lobbed a shot past Skarek from just beyond the crease, cutting Bridgeport’s lead in half.
The Islanders had multiple opportunities to add to their lead in the third. This included two power-play chances that came up short.
Bridgeport’s power play went 0-for-3 on the afternoon, while the penalty kill was 4-for-5. Belleville led in shots 36-25.