Recap: Thunderbirds 3, Islanders 2 (SO)
Feb 23, 2025Sam Bolduc scored with 53 seconds left to force overtime on Sunday, helping the Bridgeport Islanders (12-33-3-3), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, earn one point in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds (26-19-2-3) at Total Mortgage Arena.
Eetu Liukas also found the back of the net, while Springfield’s Matthew Peca had one goal in regulation and the decisive tally during a three-round shootout. Otto Stenberg notched his fourth goal in the AHL for the Thunderbirds as well. Vadim Zherenko (8-11-3) stopped 39 of 41 shots. It’s the fourth time in his last five starts he’s made at least 35 saves.
Bolduc’s game-tying goal was his seventh of the season and his first since Feb. 8 against Charlotte. He’s tallied three points (1g, 2a) over the last three games.
The Islanders controlled the opening period, outshooting the Thunderbirds 15-5. However, they could not get the puck past Zherenko early on. Henrik Tikkanen (4-13-2) had similar success for the Islanders, blocking all five shots he faced in the first.
Stenberg broke the scoreless deadlock 11:05 into the second. Anton Malmstrom fired a wrist shot from the left circle that deflected off Tikkanen’s right pad and rolled to Stenberg at the side of the crease. The rookie forward finished from there to make it 1-0 Thunderbirds.
At 17:27 of the second, Peca launched a one-timer from the right circle that appeared to go off the crossbar and roll out. Bridgeport recovered the puck and Brian Pinho set sail on a breakaway in transition before scoring what seemed to be the game-tying goal. However, after a video review, it was decided that Peca's initial shot had crossed the goal line, giving Springfield a 2-0 lead instead.
The Islanders still had some fight left in them during the third period. At the 10:13 mark, Liukas received a pass from Isaiah George and sniped a shot over Zherenko's glove to make it 2-1. Liukas has two goals in his last three games and five total this season.
With time winding down, the Islanders pulled Tikkanen for an extra attacker and it paid off. Pinho gained possession near the end wall in Springfield’s zone and sent a pass out to Bolduc at the blue line. Bolduc hammered a slap shot past Zherenko from distance, knotting the game 2-2 and forcing overtime with 53 seconds remaining.
The 3-on-3 overtime wasn’t enough to declare a winner. In the three-round shootout, Peca got the puck past Tikkanen on Springfield's first attempt. That was all the Thunderbirds needed as Zherenko stopped all three of Bridgeport’s chances.
The Islanders' man advantage went 0-for-2, while their penalty kill stopped Springfield's loan power-play opportunity. Despite coming up short the Bridgeport led in shots, 41-20.