Sound Tigers Sweep Bruins with OT Win
Feb 9, 2020Grant Hutton scored his first professional game-winner in the final stages of overtime on Sunday, propelling the Bridgeport Islanders (18-27-4-1), American Hockey League affiliate of the New York Islanders, to a 2-1 victory against the Providence Bruins (26-18-3-3) at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Parker Wotherspoon had six shots and netted his fourth goal of the season less than a minute after Zach Senyshyn put the Bruins on top in the opening period, while Jared Coreau (9-12-1) was miraculous from start to finish. He made 35 saves on 36 shots to help the Sound Tigers earn back-to-back wins on the road for the first time all season.
With the victory, Bridgeport also improved to 4-4-0-0 against Providence this season and 3-1-0-0 inside the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.
Providence has been one of the best teams early in games all season and they scored first for the 28th time – top five in the AHL – courtesy of Senyshyn at the 10:04 mark. Brendan Woods charged down the right wing and to a loose puck near Bridgeport’s goal line, before quickly centering for Senyshyn’s tap-in past Coreau to make it 1-0. It was Senyshyn’s fourth goal of the year.
That lead lasted just 50 seconds as Wotherspoon tied it back up with an even-strength goal at the 10:54 mark. Travis St. Denis brushed the puck to Josh Ho-Sang along the right-wing boards and Ho-Sang filtered a cross-ice pass to Wotherspoon above the circles. His shot went top shelf on goaltender Dan Vladar to even it 1-1.
The game remained tied after the first period despite the Bruins outshooting Bridgeport 13-5. Providence also out-chanced the Sound Tigers in the middle frame, but the goalies remained perfect. In the third, both teams had several power-play opportunities and the Sound Tigers peppered Vladar with 12 shots-on-goal. Several of those chances came in the final two minutes when Steven Kampfer was called for tripping, but the game went to overtime.
Late in the extra session, Coreau denied reigning CCM/AHL Player of the Week Jack Studnicka with his right pad on a two-on-one chance, which created a rush in transition. Hutton paved the way down the right wing and slowed as he neared the crease, before sending the Sound Tigers home with two points at 3:50 of OT.
The Sound Tigers finished the game 0-for-4 on the power play and 5-for-5 on the penalty kill. The contest also included one fight when Parker Wotherspoon and Paul Carey got into a wrestling match at 19:19 of the second.