Recap: Thunderbirds 5, Islanders 2
Mar 9, 2025Marshall Warren and Liam Foudy both found the back of the net on Sunday, but the Bridgeport Islanders (12-38-4-3), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, allowed five unanswered goals in a 5-2 loss to the Springfield Thunderbirds (30-20-2-4) at Total Mortgage Arena.
Dalibor Dvorsky recorded two goals for Springfield. Matthew Peca extended his point streak to 11 games with the eventual game-winning goal early in the third period. Nikita Alexandrov tallied a goal and an assist, while Samuel Johannesson and Corey Schueneman both logged two helpers. Vadim Zherenko (10-12-3) stopped 36 of the 38 shots he faced for the Thunderbirds.
Chris Terry added two assists for the Islanders, recording his third multi-point performance in the last four games.
The Islanders got off to a fast start, netting two goals in a 1:58 span during the first period. At 12:47, Pinho sent the puck to Warren near the blue line, where he sniped a wrist shot past Zherenko to give Bridgeport the early 1-0 lead.
Nineteen seconds later, Matt Luff was sent to the box for roughing. Bridgeport capitalized 1:39 after when Sam Bolduc found Terry in the right circle, where he fired a one-timer toward the net. The puck hit Foudy's stick in front and redirected into the back of the cage for the power-play goal, expanding the Islanders' lead to 2-0.
Springfield answered in the second period, potting two goals in a 1:45 span. At the 10:32 mark, Mackenzie MacEachern found Alexandrov on a short pass in the middle of the zone. Alexandrov blasted a slap shot past Hunter Miska (1-6-0), cutting Bridgeport’s lead in half.
At 11:48, Warren was given a delay of game penalty after he closed his hand on the puck. The Thunderbirds benefited 29 seconds later when Alexandrov found Dalibor Dvorsky at the right circle. Dvorsky sniped a wrist shot into the top shelf for the power-play goal to make it 2-2.
Peca gave the Thunderbirds the lead 1:17 into the third period. After Terry was sent to the box for boarding, Luff snapped a quick shot from the top of the left circle. The puck deflected off Peca's stick in front and fell behind Miska for another power-play goal. It stood as Peca’s league-leading eighth game winner.
Hugh McGing added insurance for the Thunderbird at the 6:22 mark. Despite being down a man due to Anton Malmstrom’s holding penalty, Otto Stenberg stole the puck and skated into the Islander's zone. He found McGing, who slipped a shot under Miska's pads for the shorthanded tally.
Springfield clinched the victory when Dvorsky scored an empty netter.
Bridgeport’s power play went 1-for-4, while the penalty kill was 2-for-4. The Islanders fell to 3-4-1-1 against Springfield this season.